The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1915-12-10
Mo Immedlate Danger In Mind.

have spoken to you today, gentlmen,
unon a single theme, the thorough prep
aration of the Nation to care Tor lts own
security and to make sure @ OF ehtte ,e bsye- tsse
isphere and in the world which we all pe.
lieye to have been proyidentially assigned
to It, have had in my mind no thought
of any immediate or particular danger arls-
ing out Of our relations with other nations
We are at peace with all the nations OF the
world. and there 10 reason to hope that no
question In controversy between TINS anu
other governments Will lead to any serious
differences of attitude and policy have been
and may yet turn out to be. am sorry 70
say that the gravest threats against our
National peace and SAFETY nave peen ut.
tered Within our own borders. There are
citizens Of the United States, ! blush to ad.
nit, born under other flags but welcomed
under our generous NATURALIZATION laws "
the full freedom and opportunity OF America.
who have poured the poison OF disloyalty
into the very arteries Of our National lie;
who have sought to bring the authority ana
good name OF our Government into con-
tempt, to destroy our industries wherever
they thought 1t effective for their vindictive
purposes to strike at them. and to debase our
politics to the uses of foreign intrigue. Tneir
number is not great as compared with the
whole number Of those sturdy hosts py
which our Nation has been enriched in re-
| cent generations out of virile foreign stocks;
but 1t Is great enough to have brought deep
| disgrace upon us and to have made 1t neces.
| sary that we should promptly make use OF
processes of law by which we may be
| purged Of their corrupt distempers America
never witnessed anything like this before.
| While we speak of the preparation Of the
Nation to make sure OF her security ana mel
effective power we must not fall into the
1 patent error Of supposing that her rea
/ strength comes from armaments and mere
| safeguards of written law. 1t comes, Of
| course from her people, their energy, theil
success in their undertaking. their fret
| opportunity to use the natural resources o.
our great home land and Of the lands out
side our continental borders which look u
| us for protection, for encouragement, ant
| for assistance in their development; from
| the organisation and freedom and vitality o.
/ our economic life. The domestic question:
which engaged the attention Of the las
/ Congress are more vital to the Nation Ii
1 this its time of test than at any other time
i We cannot adequately make ready for an,
Il trial of our strength unless we wisely ant
4 promptly direct the force of our laws int
these all-important fields OF domestic action
4 For what we are seeking now. what Il
my mind Is the single thought OF thi
message, Is National efficiency and security
We serve . great Nation. We should serv
1t In the spirit Of its peculiar genius. 1t i
the genius of common men for self-govern
ment, industry, Justice liberty and peace
We should see to II that 1t lacks no instru
ment, no facility or vigor Of law, to max
4 1t sufficient to play its part with energy
safety and assured success In this va ar
no partisans but heralds and prophets OF
new age.