Middletown transcript., 1915-12-11
ASKS ADEQUATE
DEFENSE FOR U. S.
President Wilson Pleads for Pre-
paredness Against Foes
Abroad and Within.
MESSAGE READ TO CONGRESS
Larger Army and Navy Urged
Trained citlzenry the Nations
Greatest Defense - olsloyaI
Acts Of Foreian-5orn citl-
Eens Seored-No Fear
Of War.


Of War.
Washington, Dec TAT q Joint session
Of the house and senate the president to-
day delivered his annual message. He
said in part as follows:
Since 1 last had the privilege of ad-
dressing you on the state of the Union
the war of nations on the other side of
the sea. which had then only begun to
disclose Its portentous proportions. has
extended its threatening and sinister scope
until 1t has swept within its fame some
portion of every quarter of the globe. not
excepting our hemisphere. has altered the
whole face of international affairs, and
now presents prospect Of reorganiza-
tion and reconstruction such as states
men and peoples have never been called
upon to attempt before.
We have stood apart, studiously neutral.
II was our manifest duty to do so. In
the day of readjustment and recupera-
tion we earnestly hope and believe that
we can be of infinite service.
In this neutrality, to which they were
hidden not only by their separate life and
their habitual detachment from the poll
tics of Europe but also by clear per-
ception of International duty the states
OF America have become conscious of a
new and more vital community of inter
est and moral partnership in affairs more
synpathies and interests and duties which
bid them stand together.
We have been put to the test in the case
Of Mexico. and we have stood the test
Whether we have benefited Mexico by
the course we have pursued remains to
be seen. Her fortunes are in her own
hands. But we have at least proved that
we will not take advantage of her in her
distress and undertake to impose upon
her an order and government of our own
choosing.
We will aid and befriend Mexico, but
we will not coerce her; and our course
with regard to her ought to be sufficient
proof to all America that we seek no po-
htical suEerainty or selfish control.
Not Hostile Rivals.
The moral is that the states Of Amer
lea are not hostile rivals but cooper
ating friends. and that their growing
sense Of community of interest, alike in
matters political and in matters econom-
ic, Is likely to give them a new signif-
cance as factors in international affairs
and in the political history of the world.
1t presents them as in a very deep and
true sense a unit in world affairs, spir-
itual partners, standing together because
thinking together, quick with common
sympathies and common ideals. Separat-
ed, they are subject to all the cross cur
rents Of the confused politics of a world
Of hostile rivalries; united in spirit and
purpose sthey cannot be disappointed or
their peaceful destiny.
This is Pan-Americansm. 1t has none
Of the spirit of empire in it. 1t is the en-
bodiment. the eftectual embodiment, of
the spirit of law and independence and
liberty and mutual service.
There is. venture to point out. an espe-
ctai significance just now attaching to
this whole matter of drawing the Amer
icas together in bonds of honorable part
Oership and mutual advantage because of
the economic readjustments which the
world must inevitably witness within the
next generation, when peace shall have
at last resumed its healthful tasks. In
the performance of these tasks 1 believe
the Americas to be destined to play their
parts together. 1 am Interested to fix
your attention on this prospect now be-
cause unless you take 1t within your
view and permit the full significance OF
1t 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 1 ad.
dress you today. l mean national de-
tense.
No one who really comprehends this
spirit OF the great people for whom we
are appointed to speak can fail to per
ceive that their passion is for peace, thei
genius best displayed in the practice o.
the arts of peace. Great democracies arr
not beligerent. They do not seek or de
liberty and of the free labor that support
life and the uncensored thought tina
quickens it. Conquest and dominion ar
not'in our reckoning, or agreeable to ou
principles. But just because we deman
unmolested development and the undis
turbed government of our own lives upo
our own principles of right and liberty
we resent from whatever quarter 1t ma
come. the aggression we ourselves will nc
practice. We insist upon security /
prosecuting our self-chosen lines of na
honal development. We do more tina
that. We demand 1t also for others. w
do not confine our enthusiasm for ind
Vidual liberty and free national develoI
ment to the incidents and movements
affairs which affect only ourselves. W
feel 1t wherever there is people this
tries to walk in these difIlcult paths
independence and right. From the fir
we have made common cause with a
partisans of liberty on this side of Il
sea, and have deemed it as importal
that our neighbors should be free fro
all outside domination as that we ou
selves should be; have set America asit
as a whole for the uses of independe
nations and political freemen.
Might to Maintain Right.
Out of such thoughts grow all our po
cies. We regard war merely as a mea
of asserting the rights of people again
aggression. And we as iercey les
Gus of coercive or dictatorial power wit
In our own nation as of aggression fro
without We will not maintain a stan
Ing army except for uses which are
necessary in times OF peace as In tim
B of war; and shall always see to
that our military peace establishment
no longer than is actually and continuol
ly needed for the uses of days in whi
no enemies move against US. But
do believe in a body of free citizens rea
and sufficient to take care of themselI
and of the governments which they ha
set up to serve them. In our constitute
themselves we have commanded that ct
right OF the people to keep and bt
arms shall not be infringed." and
foiffidenoe has been that our safety
times of danger would lie in the rising
the nation to take care of itself, as
formers rose at Lexington.
But war has never been a mere mat
Of men and guns. 1t is a thing Of dis
plined might. If our citizens are ever
light effectively upon a sudden summo
they must know how modern fighting
done, and what to do when the SUNNI,
cHmes to render themselves immediat
Available and Immediately effective. A