Arizona republican., 1915-12-08

peoples whose freedom of action we sought to protect. and every thought ful man of affairs must welcome the altered circumstances of the new day in whose light we now stand, when there is no claim of guardianship or thought of wards, but, instead, full and honorable association of partners between ourselves and our neighbors, in the interests of all America, North and South.
 "Our concern for the independence and the prosperity of the states of Central and South America is not altered. We retain unabated the spirit htat has inspired us through out the whole life of our govern ment and which was so frankly put into words by President Monroe. We still mean always to make a common cause of national independence and of political liberty in America. But that purpose is now better under stood so far as it concerns ourselves
 It is known not to be a selfish pur- pose. It is known to have in it no thought of taking advantage of any government in this hemisphere or playing it's political fortunes for our own benefit. All the governments of America stand, so far as we are con- cerned. upon a footing of genuine equality and unprecedented indepen- dence
 We have been put to the test in ] the case of Mexico. and we have stood the test declared the presi- dent He added that it remained to be seen whether Mexico had been benefited by the course takn by the administration, but that I've have at least proved that we will not take advantage Of her in her distress and undertake to impose upon her an or der and government of our own choosing.
 'iThe- moral is" continued hte pres ident. that the states of America are not hostile rivals, but cooperating friends, and that their growing sense of community interest, alike in matters political and in matters economic is likely to give them a new significance as factors in inter-
 national affairs and in the political history of the world. It presents them as in a very deep and true sense a unit in world affairs, spir- itual partners, standing together be- cause thinking together, quick with common sympathies and common ideals. Separated, they are subject to all the cross currents of the con- fused politics of world of hostile rivalries; united in spirit and pur-
 pose they cannot be disappointed of
 their peaceful destiny.
 T am interested to fix your at tention on this prospect now. because unless you take it within your view and permit the full significance of it to command your thought I can not find the right light in which to set forth the particular matter that lies at the very front of my whole thought as I address you today. I mean national defense.
 The passion of the American peo- pie, the president declared, was for peace; that conquest and dominion was not in their reckoning nor agreeable to their principles.
 But just because we demand un- molested development and the un- disturbed government of our own lives upon our own principles of right and liberty" he said, i've resent, from whatever quarter it may come, the aggression we ourselves will not practice We insist upon security in prosecuting our self chosen lines of national development. We do more than that. We demand it also for others.
 War, the president declared, was regarded by the United States merely as means of asserting the rights
 of people against aggression and that we are as fiercely jealous of coercive or dictatorial power within i our own nation as from aggression | from without He said the nation
 would not maintain a standing army except for uses which are as neces-
 sary in times of peace as in times of
 war, but that the country did be- lieve in a body of free citizens ready and sufficient 10 take care of
 themselves and of the government 1 "But war has never been a mere matter of men and arms" he con
 tinued Tt is a thing of disciplined l might If cur citizens are ever t fight effectively upon a sudden sum- mons, they must know how modern fighting is done, and what to dc
 when the summons comes to render
 themselves immediately available an6
 immediately effective. And the gov