The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-12-10
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS IS THEME
OF PRESIDENT WILSON'S MESSAGE
Regular Army Of 843 Supplemented by Force of 100000
Trained Citizens Is rged-Graves Menace to the Peace
Of the Country Comes from DsIoyal Foreign-Born
Ctizens-Pan for Larger Navy Outlined

washington, Dec. 7.-PreStdent Wilson
today delivered his annual message at
Joint session OF the two houses of con-
gress. He said in part:
8 Since l last had the privilege of adj
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 it's portentoQs proportions, has
extended its threatening and sinister scope
until 1t 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-
tion 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
hidden not only by their separate life and
their habitual detachment from the poll
tics of Europe but also by clear per-
ception of international duty, the states
of America have become conscious of a
new ana more vital community of inter-
est and moran 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
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 befriend Mexico. but
we will. not coerce her; and our course
with regard to her ought to be sufficient
tn oil ma ino we
litical 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 IL
matters political and in matters econom
&c, is likely to give them a new signih
canoe as factors in international affairs
and in the political history of the world
1t presents them as in a very deep ant
true sense a unit in world affairs, spir
ltual partners standing together becaus
thinking together, quick with common
5ympathies and common ideals. Separat
ed, they are subject to all the cross cur
rents of the confused politics of worl
of hostile rivalries; united in spirit an
purpose they cannot be disappointed o
their peaceful destiny.
This is Pan-Americanism. 1t has non
of the spirit of empire in it. 1t is the EN-
bodiment, the effectual embodiment, o
the spirit of law and independence an
liberty and mutual service.
There is venture to point out, an espe
cial significance just now attaching t
this whole matter of drawing the Amer
icas together in bonds of honorable part
nership and mutual advantage because c
the economic establishments which tn
world must inevitably witness within tn
next generation, when peace shall hav
at last resumed its healthful tasks.
the performance of these tasks / believ
the Americas to be destined to play the
parts together. I am interested to fl
your attention on this prospect now be
cause unless you take 1t within you
view and permit the full significance {
1t to command your thought I cannc
find the right light in which to set fort
the particular matter that lies at I'll
very front of my whole thought as l at
dress you today. l mean national d.
Tense.
Might to Maintain Right.
Out of such thoughts grow all our pol
cies. We regard war merely as NEAR
of asserting the rights of a people again
aggression. And we are as fiercely jea
Gus of coercive or dictatorial power will
in our own nation as of aggression fro
without We will not maintain a stant
ing army except for uses which are {
necessary in times of peace as In time
of war; and we shall always see to
that our military peace establishment
no longer than Is actually and continuou
fy needed for the uses of days in whiC
no enemies move against US. But
do believe in body of free citizens read
and sufficient to take care of themselv
and of the governments which they ha'
set up to serve them. In our constitution
themselves we have commanded that I'll
right of the people to keep and be-
arms shall not be infringed, and o.
confidence has been that our safety
A., -ot1ld 10 n he
the nation to take care OF itself, as u
farmers rose at Lexington.
But war has never been mere matt
of men and guns. 1t is a thing of disc
plined might If our citizens are ever
fight effectively upon sudden summon
they must know how modern fighting
done and what to do when the summo
comes to render themselves immediate
available and Immediately effective. Al
the government must be their servant
this matter, must supply them with I
training they need to take care of theI
selves and of it, The military arm of this
government, which they will not allow
direct them, they may properly use
serve them and make their independen
secure-and not their own Independent
merely but the rights also of those wi
whom they have made common eau:
should they also be put in leopard
They must be fitted to play the gre
role in the world, and particularly In q
hemisphere, for which they are qua
1ied by principle and by chastened ami
ton to play
RI Is with these ideals in mind that
plans of the department of war for me
adeouate national defense were conceiv
which will be laid before you, and viii
urge YOU to sanction and put into
feet as soon as they can be properly SCI
tinized and discussed They seem to !
the essential first steps, and they SEE
10 me for the present sufficient.
They contemplate an increase of
s1anding force of the regular army fro