New Britain herald., 1915-12-07
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1 and the prosperity of the states of 1 Central and South America is not al- tered. We retain unabated the spirit 1 that has inspired us throughout the whole life of our government and
 which was so frankly put into words by President Monroe. We still mean always to make a comm on cause of national independence and of politi- cal liberty in America. But that pur- pose is now better understood os far
 as it concerns ourselves. It is known
 not to be a selfish purpose. It is
 known to have in it no thought of talk
 ing advantage of any government in
 this hemisphere or playing it's political
 fortunes for our own benefit. All the
 governments of America stand, so far
 as we are concerned, upon footing
 of genuine equality and unquestiotd independence"
 Test in Mexico.
 I've nave been put to the test in the case of Mexico, and we have stood the test" declared the president. He added that it remained to be seen whether Mexico had been benefited by the course taken by the administra-
 tion, but that i've have at least proved
 that we will not take advantage of her
 distress and undertake to impose upon
 her an order and government of our
 own choosing"
 'The moral is,'' continued the pres ident, ''that the states of America are
 not hostile rivals but cooperating
 friends and that their growing sense
 of community interest alike in mat
 ters economic is likely to give them a
 new significance as factors in inter-
 national affairs and in the political
 history of tht world. It presents
 them as in very deep and true
 sense 8 unit in world affairs, spiritual
 partners, standing together because
 thinking together, quick with common sympathies and common ideals Sep- arated they are subject to all the cross currents of the confused politics of world of hostile rivalries; united in spirit and purpose they cannot be dis appointed of their peaceful destiny National Defense.
 "I am interested to fix your atten- tion on this prospect now, because un- less you take it within your view and permit the full significance of it to command your thought I can not find the right light in which to set forth the particular matter that lies at the very front of my whole though as I address you today. I mean national defense.'
 The passion of the American peo- pie, the president declared, was for peace; that conquest and dominion was not in their reckoning nor agree able to their principles.
 "But just because we demand un- molested development and the undis- turbed government of our own lives upon our own principles of right and 1 liberty he said, i've resent from whatever quarter it may come, the l aggression we ourselves will not prac- tice. We insist upon security in pros- 1 ecuting our se1f-chosen lines of na-
 tional development. We do more than
 that. We demand it also for others - War Regarded By U. s.
 War, the president declared, was
 regarded by the United States merely
 people against aggression, and that
 i've are as fiercely jealous of coercive
 or dictatorial power within our own
 nation as from aggression from with
 out" He said the nation would not
 maintain standing army except for
 uses which are as necessary in times of peace as in times of war, but that
 the country did believe, in a body of free citizens ready and sufficient tc
 take care of themselves and of the | government.
 "But war has never been a mere
 matter of men and arms," he con- l tinued. Tt is a thing of disciplined might. If our citizens are ever tC fight effectively upon sudden sum-
 mons, they must know how modern
 fighting is done, and what to do whe1 l the summons comes to render them. selves immediately available and i'm t mediately effective. And the govern. 3 ment must be their servant in this = matter, must supply them with tEs
 training they need to take care ol = themselves and of it. The military 5 arm of their government, which they will not allow to direct them, the, t may properly use to serve them ant l make their independence secure-ant ;, not their own independence merely l but the rights also of those with whom 3 they have made common cause g should they also be put in jeopardy ] Plans to Strengthen Army.
 The president presented the war de
 partment plans for strengthening thu s army as "the essential first step'' ane flor the present sufficient. The plan s include the increasing of the stand Q ing army to force of 141,84 men O all services, and the establishment O. = 8 supplem entary force of 100000 dis 8 ciplined citizens, who would undergo 0 training for short periods throughOu f three years of a six years enlistment - Ut would depend upon the patriot1 T feeling of the younger men of thu e country whether they responded tt such a call to service or not" said thu
 president. "It would depend upol @ the patriotic spirit of the employer