Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-11-05

the University Of inuiahd, vas 10 et-
liver the principal address at t0nighj'a I
session. Departmental meetings anf
round table occupied the day,
from any force which might menace it.
He then explained the program for
strengthening the national defense
which is to be laid before congress in !
the next session. This, he said, does /
not include a great increase in the /
standing army. but an increase sufic- |
lent for the defense OF the insular pos
sessions and the Panama canal, the
manning Of the border posts and the
coast defenses. together with the per
Torrance Of necessary police duties.
The training of a large force Of men,
three years with the colors" and three
/ in reserve. will furnish the necessary
reserves, he said
The navy, Mr.. Wilson added is an
efficient force, but the program now
outlined plans not for increases from
wear to year but looks into the future
and meets the demands which will
come them
Great significance was attached to
the presidents remark that with our
selves in this great matter tiefense1
We associate all the peoples Of our
own hemisphere" adding that We
wish not only for the United States but
for them the fullest freedom Of indie
pendent growth of action
Text of Wilson Address.
President Wilson spoke as follows:
"Mr POSTMASTER and Gentlemen:
/ warmly felicitate the club upon the
completion Of fifty years of successful
and interesting life. Club life may be
made to mean 4 great deal to those
who know how 10 use it, I have no
doubt that TO a great many Of you has
come genuine stimulation in the asso-
Citations OF this place and that as the
years have multiplied you have seen
more and more the useful ends which
may be served by organizations Of this
sort.
/ ~ Of that. for there are others of your
own members who can speak Of the
club with a knowledge and an intel
ligence which no one can have who has
not been intimately associated With it,
Men band themselves together for the
sake of the association no doubt but
also for something greater and deeper
than that.-because they are conscious
of common interests lying outside their
business occupations, because they are
members of the same community and
in frequent intercourse find mutual
stimulation and real maximum Of vi
tality and power. I shall assume that
here around the dinner table on this
memorial occasion Our talk should
properly turn to the wide and common
interests which are most in our
thoughts, whether they be the interests
of the community or of the nation.
"A year and half ago our thought
would have been almost altogether Of
great domestic questions. They are
many and of vital consequence. We
must and shall address ourselves to
their solution with diligence. frmuess,
and self-possession, Notwithstanding
we find ourselves in the midst Of a
world disturbed by great disaster and
ablaze with terrible war; but our
thought is now inevitably OF new things
about which formerly We gave our
selves little concern. We are think
ing now chiefly of our relations with
the rest of the world-nor our CONNER
ciaI relations, about those we have
thought and planned always.-but
about our political relations, our duties
as an individual and independent force
in the world to ourselves, our neigh
bors. and the world itself.
Our principles are well known. II
is not necessary 10 ayow them again
We believe in political liberty and
founded our great government to OBJ
tain 1t. the liberty Of men and Of PEG
ples,---of men 10 choose their own lives
and of peoples to choose their own al.
legiance Our ambition, also, all thu
world has knowledge OF. It is not enl,
ito be free and prosperous ourselves
but also TO be the friend and thought
fui partisan OF those who are free o,
who desire freedom the world over. /
we have had aggressive purposes ant
coyetous ambitions, they were tht
fruit of our thoughtless youth as a ma
ton and we have put them aside. ",
shall. confidently believe, never AGAR
take another foot Of territory BY con
quest We shall never In any circum
4 stances seek 20 make an Independent
4 people subject 10 our domain. beeans,
we believe, We passionatek believe. i,
! the right Of every people 10 choos.
| their own allegiance aud be free O
| masters altogether For onrgeiye
! We wish nothing but the full liberty o
| self-deyeiopment. and with ourgeIye
| In this great matter We associate al
| the people Of our own hemisphere. ",
wish not only for the United State
but for them the snil.s, freedom of III