The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-11-13

the OlQer QdVlGS OF the WOIlQ Is lHdl
we should hasten our pace in the
policy we have long been pursuing,
and that chief of all we should have
a definite policy of development, not
made from year to year but looking
well into the future and planning for
definite consummation. We can and
should profit in all that we do by the
| experience and example that have
! been made obvious to us by the mill
tary and naval events of the actual
present. 1t is not merely a matter Of
building battleships and cruisers and
submarines, but also a matter Of max
ing sure that we shall have the ade-
quate equipment Of men and NUM-
lions and supplies for the vessels we
build and intend to build. Part of cur
problem is the problem Of what l may
call the mobilization of the resources
of the nation at the proper time If 1t
should ever be necessary to mobilize
them for national defense. We shall
study the efficiency and adequate
equipment as carefully as we shall
study the number and size OF our
ships. and I believe that the plans al
ready in part made public by the navy
department are plans which the whole
nation can approve with rational en-
thusiasm
No thoughtful man feels any panic
haste in this matter. The country is
not threatened from any quarter. She
stands in friendly relations with all
the world. Her resources are known
and her self-respect and her capacity
to care for her own citizens and her
own rights There is no fear amongst
US. Under the new world conditions
we have become thoughtful of the
things which all reasonable men con-
slider necessary for security and self
defense on the part of every nation
confronted with the great enterprise
Of human liberty and independence.
In the fulfillment of the program
propose / shall ask for the hearty sup
port of the country, of the rank and
hle of America, of men of all shades
OF political opinion. / would not feel
that 1 was discharging the solemn OBJ
legation 1 owe the country were l not
to speak in terms of the deepest
solemnfty of the urgency and necessi-
ty of preparing ourselves to guard and
protect the rights AMI privileges Of
our people, our sacred heritage of the
fathers who struggled to make US an
Independent nation.
Hits at the Hyphenates.
'"The only thing within our own Dor.
ders that has given US grave concern
in recent months has been that voices
have been raised in America profess
ing to be the voices of Americans
which were not indeed and in truth
American, but which spoke alien SYM
pathies, which came from men who
loved other countries better than they
loved America, men who were par
tisans of other causes than that of
America and had forgotten that their
chief and only allegiance was to the
great government under which they
live. These voices have not been
many, but they have been very loud
and very clamorous. They have pro-
ceeded from a few who were bitter
and who were grievously misled.
America has not opened its doors in
vain to men and women out of other
nations. The vast majority of those
who have come to take advantage of
her hospitality have united their spirits
with hers as well as their fortunes.
These men who speak alien sympa-
thies are not their spokesman, but are
the spokesman of small groups whom
it is high time that the nation should
call to a reckoning. The chief thing
necessary in America in order that she
should let all the world know
that she is prepared to main
tain her own great position is that
the real voice of the nation should
sound forth Enthusiastically and in ma
jestic volume, in the deep unison OF a
common, unhesitating national feel
ing. / do not doubt that upon the
first occasion, upon the first opportu.
nifty, upon the first definite challenge.
that voice will speak forth in tones
which no man can doubt and with
commands which no man dare gain
say or resist.
May l not say, while am speak
ing of this, that there is another dan
ger that we should guard against?
We should rebuke not only nantes
t. tons Of racial feeling here in Amer
lea where there should be none, but
also every manifestation of religious
and sectarian antagonism.
Here is the nation God has builded
by our hands. What shall we do with
it? Who is there who does not stand
ready at all times to act in her behalf
in a spirit of devoted and disinterest-
ed patriotism? We are yet only in
the youth and first consciousness of
our power. The day of our countrv's
life is still but in its fresh morning.
Let US lift our eyes to the great tracts
Of life yet to be conquered in the in
terests Of righteous peace Come, let
us renew our allegiance to America.
conserve her strength in its purity,
make her chief among those who
serve mankind, self-reverenced, self
commanded, mistress of all forces of
quiet counsel. strong above all others
in good will and the might OF irwin
chile justice and right