The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-12-08

the republics of the two continents
which nature and political fortune
have so intimately linked together.
earnestly recommend 10 your perusal
the reports OF their proceedings and
OF the actions 81 their committees
You win get from them. think. q
fresh conception of the ease and intel
iigence and advantage with which Am
orleans Of both continents may draw
together IN practical cooperation and
OF what the material foundations OF
this hopeful partnership Of interest
must consist.-of how we should build
them and OF how necessary II IL that
We should hasten their building.
Has Especial Significance.
There is. venture TO point out, an
especial significance just now attach
Ing TO this whole matter OF drawing
the Americas together in bonds OF
honorable partnership and mutual
advantage because OF the economic
readjustments which the world must
inevitably witness within the next
generation. when peace shall have at
last resumed its healthful tasks. IN
the performance OF these tasks / be
heve the Americas TO be destined 10
play their parts together. / am inter.
ested to Tx your attention on this
prospect now because unless you take
II within your view and permit the
full significance of II to command
your thought | cannot find the right
light In which TO set forth the parti.
cular matter that lies at the very
front Of my whole thought as l 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
perceive that their passion Is Tor
peace. their genius best displayed in
the practice OF the arts of peace.
Great democracies are not belngerent.
They do not seek or desire war. Their
thought is of individual liberty and OF
the free labour that supports life ana
the uncensored thought that quickens
H. Conquest and dominion are not
In our reckoning. or agreeable to our
principles. But just because we de-
mand unmolested development and
the undisturbed government OF our
own lives upon our own principles OF
right and liberty. We resent, from
whatever quarter is may come, the az
gression We ourselves will not prac-
uce. We insist upon security in prose
cutting our self-chosen lines Of national
development We do more than that.
We demand IL also for others. We Do
not confine our enthusiasm for indivi-
dual liberty and free national develop
ment TO the incidents and movements
Of affairs which affect only ourselves.
We feel IL wherever there is a people
that tries to walk In these difficult
paths OF Independence and right From
The first We have made common
cause with all partisans OF liberty on
this side the sea. and have deemed II
as important that our neighbors
should be free from all outside DOM
ination as that We ourselves should
be: have set America aside as a whole
for the uses of independent nations
and political freemen.
Out OF such thoughts grow all our
policies. We regard war merely as
a means of asserting the rights Of a
people against aggression. And We
are as hereby jealous OF coercive or
dictatorial power within our own ma
ton as OF aggression from without.
We viii not maintain a standing army
except for uses which are as neces-
sary in times Of peace as In times OF
war; and we shall always see TO II
that our military peace establishment
is no larger than is actually and con-
tinuously needed for the uses Of laws
In which no enemies move against US.
But We do believe in a body OF free
citizens ready and sufficient to take
care OF themselves and OF our gov
ernments which they have set up TO
serve them. In our constitutions
themselves We have commanded tnat
the right OF the people to keep ana
bear arms shall not be infringed," and
our confidence has been that our
safety IN times Of danger would lie
In the rising or the nation TO take care
OF Itself, as the farmers rose at lex
ingtOn.
But war has never been q mere
matter Of men and guns. Il is a thing
OF disciplined might II our citizens
are ever to Eight effectively upon a
sudden summons. they must know
how modern fighting Is done. ami
what TO do when the summons comes
to render themselves Immediately
available and Immediately effective.
And the government must be their
- faAAA ~ TINS AAaaAAfAr must HuVUll
them with the training they need TO
take care OF themselves and OF f. The
military arm OF their government.
which they will not allow to direct
them, they may properly use to serve
them and make their Independence
secure and not their own indepen-
dence merely but the rights also OF
those with whom they have made
common cause. should they also be
put In jeopardy They must be fitted
70 play the great role In the world.
and particularly In this hemisphere,
for which they are qualified by prin-
ciple and by chastened ambition 70
play.
u 10 with these ideals In mind that
the plans ~ the Department OF War
for more adequate national defense
were conceived which VIII be- laid be-
fore you. and which I urge you TO
sanction and put into effect as soon
az they can be properly scrutinized
and discussed. They seem TO me the
essential FIRST steps. and they seem
% me for the present sufficient.
Army Increase.
They contemplate an Increase OF tho
standing force Of the regular army
from its present strength Of Eve thous-
and and twenty three officers and one