Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-12-15
MESSAGE
Wilson Voices Policy of Pan Americanism, Urges Defense
Measures, Investigation of Railway Problems, Vocation
al Education and Requests Laws to Punish seditious
Americans and Troublesome Aliens.


factors in international affairs and in
the political history of the world. 1t
presents them as in a very deep and
true n a unit in world affairs, spir-
itual partners. standing together because
th1nkin together. quick with common
sympathteS and common ideals. Sep
arated they are subject to all the cross
currents of the confused politics of a
world of hostile %rivalries; united in spirit
and urpos they cannot be disappointed
of their peaceful destiny.
Ints Is Pan-Amerlcanism. 1t has none
or the spirit OF empire In It. lt 10 the en-
bodiment, the effectuaI embodiment, Of
the spirit Of law and independence and
liberty and mutual service.
A very notable body of men recently
met in the city of Washington. at the in
vitation and as the guests of this gov
eminent. whose deliberations are likely
to be looked back to as marking a me-
morable turning point in the history of
America. They were representatives
spokesman of the several independent
states of this hemisphere and were as
sembled to discuss the f1nancial and COM
mercial relations of the republics OF the
two continents which nature and political
fortune have SO intimately linked to-
gether. I earnestly to your
perusal the reports of their proceedings.
and of the actions of their committees.
You will get from them. I Think, a fresh
conception OF the ease and intelligence
and advantage with which Americans
OF both continents may draw together in
practical cooperation and of what the
material foundations of this hopeful part
nership of interest must consist-of how
we should build them and of how neces-
sary 1T is that we should hasten their
building.
Destiny Of Americas.
There ls, venture to point out, an
especial Significance just now attaching
to this whole matter OF drawing the
Americas together in bond. Of honorable
partnership and mutual advantage be-.
Y of the economic establishments
which the world must inevitably witness
WITHIN the next generation, when peace
snall nave at last resumed lie healthfui
tasks. In the performance of these tasks
I believe the Americas to be destined to
play their parts together. I am inter-
ested to fix your attention on this pros
pect now because unless o take it with
In your view and permit the full sig
nfHcance of it to command your thought
1 cannot find the right light in which
to set forth the particular matter that
lies at the very front of my whole
thought. as / address you today. mean
national defense.
ideals Of Democracy.
No one who really comprehends the
spirit OF the great people for whom we
are appointed to speak, can fail to per-
cetve that their passion is for peace. their
genius best displayed in the practice of
the arts of peace. Great democracles are
not beiiigerent. They do not seek or de.
sire war. Their thought is Of individual
liberty and of the free labor tina sup
ports life and the u%ncensored thought
that quickens it. Conquest and dominion
are not in our reckoning, or agreeable to
our principles. But just because we de-
mand unnolested development and the
undisturbed government Of our own lives
upon our own principles, Of right and
liberty. we resent from whatever quarter
It may come, the aggression we ourselves
Will not practice. We insist upon security
IN prosecuting our self chosen lines Of ma
ttonai development. We do more than
That. We emand It also for others. We
40 not conf1ne our enthusiasm for indi-
vldual liberty and free national develop
ment to the incidents and movements of
affairs which affect only ourselves. We
feel 1T wherever there is a people that
tries to walk in these difficult paths of
independence and right. From the first
we have made common cause with all
part'sans OF liberty on this side the sea,
ana nave deemed it as important that
our neighbors should be free from all
outside domination as that we ourselves
should be; ave set America aside as n
whole for the uses of independent nations
and political freemen.
Can't Depend on Farmers.
Out Of such thoughts grow all our poll
or asserting the rights of a people against
aggression. And we are as fiercely ieal-
ous OF coercive or dictatorial power With
without. We will not maintain n stand
ing army except for uses which are as
necessary in times of peace as in times
OF war; and we shall always see to it that
larger than Is actually and co%ntinuously
needed for the uses Of lays in which no
enemies move against us. But we do be-
sufficient to take car. of themselves and
of the governments which they have set
up to serve them. In our constitutions
right of the people to keep and bear arms
shall not be i%nfringed," and our conf
dence has been that our safety in times
oil LIZA. dang &c would lie IN the rising Of the
ers rose at Lexington.
Must Understand War.
But war has never been q mere waiter
OF men and guns. 1t is a thing of disci-
plined might. u our citizens are ever to
fight effectively upon q sudden mmo
they must know how modern fiohtino 8
done, and what to do when the
available and Immediately effective. And
the governments must be their servant in
TINS matter, must supply them with the
selves and ,d's 81 "1 i. :: The e.x mii Sa I o. arm rns'n Of
their government. which they win not al
low to direct them; they may properly use
to serve them and make their independ-
encc secure-and not their own %independ-
ence merely but the rights also of those
with whom they have made common
cause. should they also be put in jeopardy.
role in the world. and particularly ia this
hemisphere, for which they are qualified
by principle and by chastened ambition
to play.
IT ia with these fdoals in mind %hot <ha