The Ordway new era., 1915-12-10
President Wilson Pleads for Pre-
paredness Against Foes
Abroad and Within.
MESSAGE READ TO CONGRESS
Larger Army and Navy Urged
Trained citizenry the Nations
Greatest Defense - Disloyai
Acts Of Fofeign.Born ctti-
zens Scored-No Fear
Of War.

Warrington, Dec. 7.-At a joint session
Of the house and senate the president to-
day delivered his annual message. lie
said In part as follows:
Since 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 II 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 reorsaniza-
ton and reconstruction such as states
men and peoples have never been called
upon to attempt before.
We have stood apart, studiously neutral.
1t 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
bidden not only by their separate life and
their habitual detachment from the poll
tics of Europe but also by u clear per-
ception of International duty. the states
Of America have become conscious of
new and more vital community of inter-
est and moral partnership in affairs more
clearly conscious OF the many common
sympathies and interests and duties which
bid them stand together.
We have been put to the test in the case
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 befricnd Mexico, but
we will not coerce her. and our course
with regard to her ought to be sufficient
IN
utlcal suzerainty or selfish control.
Net 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-
&c, Is likely to give them new siSniil-
canoe 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. Scparat-
ed, they are subject to all the CROSS cur
> rents of the confused politics OF world
Of hostile rivalries; united in spirit and
purpose they cannot be disappointed OF
their peaceful destiny.
This Is -Americanism. 1t has none
of the spirit of empire in it. 1t Is the EN-
bodiment. the efrectual embodiment. of
tho spirit of law and Independence and
liberty and mutual service.
There Is. venture to point out, IN espe-
cial Significance just now attaching to
this whole matter OF drawing the Amer
icas together in bonds of honorable part
ncrship and mutual advantage because OF
tho economic rcadJusments which the
world must Inevitably, witness within the
next generation. when peace shall have
at last resumed It's healthful tasks In
the performance of these tasks believe
the Americas to be destined TO play their
parts together. l am Interested 10 hN
your attention on this prospect now be-
cause unless you take 1t within your
view and permit the full Significance OF
It to command your thought ! cannot
find the right light in which to set forth
the particular matter hat lies at the
very front OF my whole thought as I nd
dress you today. ! mean national de-
fense.
no one who really comprehends the
sp.rit of the great people for whom we
are appointed to speak can fail to per-
ceive that their passion is for peace, their
genius best displayed In the practice OF
the arts Of peace Great democracics are
not belliEerent. They do not seek or de-
sire war. Their thought is or individual
liberty and of the free labor that supports
life and the uncensorcd thought that
quckens IL. Conquest and dominion are
no. In our reckoning. or agreeable to our
principles. But just because We demand
unmolestcd development and the undis-
turbed governpcnt Of our own lives upon
our own principles of right and liberty.
We resent. from whatever quarter II may
come, the aggression we ourselves VIII nor
practice We insist upon security In
prosecuting our self-chosen lines of ma
tional development We do more tnnh
that We demand II also for others we
do not confine our enthusiasm for indi-
vdual liberty and free national develop
rnent 20 the incidents and movements OF
affairs which affect only ourselves. we
feel 1t wherever there is n people that
tries to walk in these difficult paths oil
Independence and right. From the iirst
we have made common cause with all
partisans nf liberty on this side OF the
sea, and have deemed 1t as Important
that our neiRhbors should be tree from
nil outside domination as that we. our
selves should be; have set America aside
ms a whole for the uses of Independent
nations and political fIcemen
Might to Maintain Right.
Out of such thoughts grow all our poll
cles. We regard merely as n means
of asserting the rights of a people against
aggression. And we are rs tierccly 1eal-
Gus Of coercive or dictatoriai power WIN
In our own nation as OF aggression from
without. We will not maintain stahu-
ing army except for uses when are Us
necessary in times OF peace as IN tunes
of war; and shall always see 10 IL
that our military peace establishment Is
no longer than Is actually and continuous
1y needed for the uses OF days IN "hich
no enemies move against us. 3ut we
do believe In body OF free citizens ready
and sufficient to take care OF themselves
and of the governments which they have
set up to serve them. In our constitutions
themselves we have commanded that the
right of the people to keep and pear
arms shall not be infringed, ana our
confidence has been that our safety In
times OF danger would lie In the rising OF
the nation to take care of Itself. as the
farmers rose at Lexington
But war has never been mere mater
of men and guns. It is n thing OF disci-
plined might. II our citizens are ever 10
night effectively upon n sudden summons
they must know how modern hghtinS Is
done. and what to do when the summons
comes to rendcr Themselves immediately