Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-11-11

] there even raised the question: of the
Wilful use OF force on our uArtsagafnst
any Nation or IA people. No matter
what military or naval force the Unit
ed States might develop, statesmen
throughout the whole world mightIest
assured that we were gathering thai
force, not for attack in M quarter,
not for aggression of any kind, not for
the satisfaction of any political or in
te~rnatlonal ambition, but merely to
make sure of u own security We
have 1t in mind to be prepared, but not
for war. but only for defense. and with
the thought constantly In our minds
that the principles we hold most dear
can be achieved by the slow processes
Of history only in the kindly n
wholesome atmosphere of peace and
notify the use of hostile + The
mission of America in the world Is
essentially a mission of peace and good
will among men. She has become the
nome and. asylum of men of ali creeds
and races. Within her hospitabIa
BORDERS they have found homes and
congeLAal associations and freedom
and a wide and cordial welcome, and
they have become part of the bone
and snew and spirit of America itself!
american has been made up out of the
Nations of the world and is the friend
OF the Nations of the world. !,
But We feel justified in preparing
ourselves to vindicate our right to IN
dependent and unmolested action by
maklng the force that is in us ready
| for assertion.
And we know that we can do this
IL a way that will be itself an Illus.
tratlon Of the American spirit. In
accordance with our American tradf--
: tlens We want and shall work for only
ar Army adequate to the constant and
Iegltlmate uses of times of i~nterna-
tional peace. But we do want To feel
that there is a great body of citizens
who have received at least the most
rudimentary and necessary forms of.
military training; that they will be
ready to form themselves into a fight
Ing force at the call of the nation; an{
that the Nation has the munitions and
supplies with which to equip them
without delay should it be necessary.
To cali them into action. We wish to
supply them with the training they.
need and we think we can do so with
out calling them atsany time too long
away from their civilian pursuits.
1t is with this idea with this con-
ceIt1on, in mind that the plans have
been made which it will be my privilege
to lay before Congress at it's next
session. That plan calls for only
such an increase in the regular Army
OF the United States as experience has
proved to be required for the perform
ance of the necessary duties OF the
Army in the Philippines, in Hawaii, in
Porto Rico, upon the borders of the
United States, at the coast fortifca-
t ons, and at the military posts of the
interior. For the rest, it calls for the
training within the next three years
Of a force of 100000 citizen soldiers to
raised in annual contingents of
1873 600 who would be asked to enlist
for three years with the coIors anu
three years on furlough, but who DUR
ing their three ears of enlistment
with the colors would not be organized
as a standing force but would be ex-
pected merely to undergo intensive
training for a very brief period of EACH
Their training would take place.
III immediate association with the or
gained units of the regular Army.
1t would have no touch of the ANA
teuB about it, neither would it exact
OF the volunteers more than they could
give in any one year from their civil
pursuits.
And o n of this would be done in
such a way a sin the slightest degree
supersede or subordinate our pres
serviceable efficient National
On the contrary, the National
Guard itself would be used as a part
of the mstrumnetality by which train
ing would be given the citizens who
enlisted under the new conditions and
should hope and expect that the leg
islation by which all this would be
accomplished would put the National
Guard itself upon a better and more
footing than it has ever
been before, giving it not oily the re-
ccgnition which it deserves. but a
more definite support from the Ma
tional Government and a more definite
connection with the military organiza-
ion of the Nation.
What We all wish to accomplish is
that the forces of the Nation should
be part of the Nation and not
4 separate profession force, and the
chief cost of the system would not be
the enlistment or in the training of
men. but in the providing of ample
equipment in case it should be neces-
to call all forces into the field.
Moreover it has been American
policy time out of mind to. look to the
Navy as the first and chief line of de-
'ense. The navy of the United States
IS already a very great and efficient
cree. Not rapidly, but slowly, with
careful attention, our naval force has {
developed until the navy of the s
United States stands recognized us
of the most CihCient. anu notable ]
the modern All thai Is nesd- [
I'd in order % bring it 10 q point of
force and efficiency as /
compared with the other navies of the i
world is that we should hasten our i
in the policy we have long been !
....s.;.A aad 4hat chief Of oil .Mn !