The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1915-12-09
President Wilson Pleads for Pre-
paredness Against Foes
Abroad and Within.
MESSAGE READ TO CONGRESS
Trained CitIxenry the Nations
Greatest Defense - Disloyai
Acts Of Foreion.Born Citi.
xcns Scored--No Fear
Of War.

Washington, Dec. 7-At n Joint session
OF the house and senate the president to.
day delivered his annual message. lie
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 10
disclose It's portentous proportions. has
extended Its threatening and sinister scope
until II has swept within Its flame some
portion OF every quarter OF the globe, not
excepting our hemisphere. has altered the
whole face Of International affairs, and
now presents a prospect OF reOrganiza-
ton and reconstruction such IA 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 recupcra-
ton 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 habltual detachment from the poll
tics OF Europe but also by IA 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
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
Of Mexico. and we have stood the test.
Whether we have benefited Mexico by
the course we have pursued remains to
De 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-
utical suzerainty 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-
&c. Ia likely to give them a new signin-
canoe M factors In International affairs
and In the political history OF the world
1t presents them as In q very deep and
true sense unit In world affairs, spir-
ituai 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 IA world
~ ''oS''' splElt una
purpose they cannot be disappointed OF
their peaceful destiny.
This In Pan-Americanism. II has none
OF the spirit OF empire In It. II Is the en-
bodiment. the effectual embodiment, of
the spirit OF law and Independence and
liberty and mutual service.
There Is. l venture to point out. an espe-
ciai signifcance just now attaching to
this whole matter Of drawing the Amer
icas together In bonds OF honorable part
nership and mutual advantage because OF
the economic Establishments which the
world must inevitably witness within the
next generation, when peace shall have
AT last resumed its heaithful tasks. In
the performance OF these tasks | believe
the Americas to be destined to play their
parts together. l am interested to fix
your attention on this prospect now be.
cause unless you take It within your
view and permit the fun Significance OF
VI to command your thought cannot
IND the right light In which to set forth
the particular matter that lies ut the
very front OF my whole thought as I ad-
dress you today. mean national de.
tense.
No one who really comprehends the
spirit 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 democracies are
not belligerent. They do not seek or de-
sire war Their thought IL OF individual
liberty and OF the free labor that supports
life and the uncensorcd thought that
Quickens II. Conquest and dominion are
nor IN our reckoning. or agreeable to our
principles. But Just because we demand
unmolested development and the undis-
turbcd government OF our own lives upon
our own principles OF right and liberty,
Hl..s
come, the aggression we ourselves will not
practice. We insist upon security I'm
prosecuting our self-chosen lines OF M
uonai development We do more than
that. We demand II also for others We
do not confine our enthusiasm for indl.
Vidual liberty and free national develop.
ment 20 the incidents and movements OF
Snars which affect only ourselves. We
reel II wherever there In n people that
tries to walk In these difficult paths OF
independence and right. From the first
we have made common cause with ali
partisans ~ liberty on this side OF the
sea, ana have deemed Il as important
that our neighbors should be free from
all outside domination as that we our
serves should be: have set America aside
as whole for the uses OF independent
nations and political freemen.
Might to Maintain Right.
Out OF such thoughts grow all our po,i.
cies. We regard war merely as q means
OF assertin. the rights OF a people against
aggression. And we are as fiercely zeal.
Gus OF coercive or dictatoriaI power with
In our own nation as OF aggression from
without. We will not maintain a stand.
Ing army except for uses which are as
necessary In times of peace as IN times
OF war; and We shall always see TO Il
that our military peace establishment Is
no longer than Is actually and continuous
~ needed for the uses OF days In which
no enemies move against us. But we
40 believe In body OF free citizens ready
ana suficient to take care OF themselves
and or the governments which they have
set up to serve them. In our constitutions
themselves we have commanded that 1.-THE
right or the people to keep and bear
arms shall not be infringed." and 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 a mere matter
OF men and guns. II is a thing OF disci-
pinned might, II our citizens are ever 10
nght eHectively upon sudden summons.
hey must know how modern fighting IL
done' and what to do when the summons
comes to render themselves Immediately
s'ai'apie AMI Immediately effective. And