Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-22
CONTINUED from Page one)

Justice Whitehouse, the presiding Oh
ficer, spoke of the good fortune "hlch
came to the Augusta citizens IN nav
ing with them the real discoVerer OF
the North Pole, who was to speak up
on a subject of vital interest and of
great importance to the welfare of our
nation. He continued as follows:
We are to be congratulated upon the
great privilege and good fortune winch
we enjoy tonight of having with us
a distinguished gentleman who is
known throughout the civilized world
as the discoyerer Of the North Pole,
and also recognized as scientist of
international reputation. He Will
speak to us upon a question OF vital
interest and supreme Importance to
our State and Country. He is emf
nently qualified to discuss the ques-
ton whether in view of the appalling
mania for acquiring world wide DO
minion and power by military force,
now manifest in Europe, 1t is not the
duty Of the United States government
to make further effective preparation
for national defense, and the better
safe guarding of American rights,
AIutIlCdH iDCi e'i'eA -hAAANAN>-N- A--~~-
tutions When LORD Haldane of Eng
land was minister of war he answered
the appeal of Lord Roberts for better
military equipment by saying that
they should prepare for the reason
ably probable, but not for the logic
ally possible" But when tie follow
ing year the superbly trained and
equipped armies Of Germany trampled
upon solemn international treaties as
worthless scraps OF paper, ana IN
mad race for Paris, shattered the gates
Of Belgium and committed acts OF
vandalism, and atrocious crueltry un-
paralleled in the history of the civil
lized world, England discovered that
:. terrible mistake had been committed.
The question which now confronts the
Anne rican government is whether 1t is
not a duty forthwith to make every
reasonable eXertion to prepare for the
logically possible" as well as the
reasonably probable" in order that
our defenseless condition may no
longer afford q constant temptation
for hostile attack.
The words of George Washington.
who had led our undisciplined armies
through a seven years war. are not
merely the felicitous phrases of a
learned lawyer, but the erect and
forceful words of a soldier, states
man and a patriot.
In his First Annual Address to his
Fellow Citizens Of the Senate and
House of Representatives. January s.,
1890, President George Washington
said:
Among the many interesting objects
which will engage Your attention, that
of providing for the common defense
will merit particular regard.
ITO be prepared for war is one of
the most effectual means of preserv-
ing peace.
"A free people ought not only to he
armed but disciplined; to which end
a uniform and well-digested plan is
requisite; and their safety and inter-
est require that they should promote
such manufacturers as tend to render
them Independent Of others for essen
tial, particularly. military supplies.
The proper establishment OF the
troops which may be deemed indis-
pcnsable, will be entitled to mature
CpIl- pliti eLlloIi. III t4tV ciiIS
which may be maue respecting it, it
will be of Importance to cOncilate the
comfortable support of the officers and
soldiers with a due regard to econ
omy.'
In the midst of all the iconoclasm of
modern times George Washington has
never been discredited. He spoke as
one having the knowledge and author
ity which justified him in speaking;
for he never could forget that the war
for Independence was prolonged for
years, and the lives of many thou
sands of American soldiers were sac
ri1iced for want Of suitable discipline
and adequate equipment Of the pa
triot armies.
This great Republic was erected by
the tolls and sacrifices of our fore
fathers, cemented by the blood of our
fathers and brothers. Our government
is founded upon the principles of equal
right; equal liberty, equal justice and
equal opportunity, and it derives all
it's just powers from the consent of
the governed. We believe it to be a
beneficent government; and we are
accustomed to think of it and speak
of it as the best example of free
government and liberty under law,
that the world has ever seem We
assume it to be the unanimous voice
of the American people that it is a
government worth defending, and the
determined resolve of all patriotic cit
liens that their country shall be de-
Tended and preserved, and not perish
from the earth.
year and half ago intelligent and
thoughtful people in all civilized coun-
tries felt warranted in believing that
there had never been period in history
when there was manifest a higher regard
for truth and when the sense of justice
was more widely diffused among the peo-
pie; no period when there was a broader
spirit of charity or stronger faith, or
more Righteousness and honor among
the nations of the earth than at that
time. Then all the forces which have
their origin in the enlightened conscience
of men, and their inspirations in the
Christian spirit of faith, charity and HUI
mainly seemed to be working in further
ance Of one Of the most beneficent move
ments Of the age in favor Of the settle
ment of international disputes by per-
manent court Of arbitration under the
Hague System of Peace. The system was
then in actual operation and hope was