McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1915-12-10
ASKS ADEQUATE
DEFENSE FOR U. S.
preess;!aaen! Mi Ase. Pleads! Pleads fer Pre-
paredness Against Foes
Abroad and Within.
MESSAGE READ TO CONGRESS
Larger Army and Navy Urged
Trained citizenry the Nations
Greatest Defense - Disloyai
Acts of Foreign-Born citi-
zens Scored-No Fear
of War,

zens Scored--No Fear
r. of War.
Washington, Dec. TAT joint session
of the house and senate the president to-
day delivered his annual message. He
said In part as follows:
Since 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 Its porteptous 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 prospect of reorganiza-
ton 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-
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 habitual detachment from the poll
tics of Europe but also by a clear per-
ception of international duty. the states
VI AIucTlCd nave DeCOUlt CDnSCiOuS VI a
new and more vital community of inter-
est and moral partnership in affairs more
clearly conscious os 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 aiG and befrend 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-
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 in
matters political and In matters econom-
ic. Is likely to give them new signifi-
canoe as factors in International affairs
and in the political history of the world.
II presents them as In a 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 world
of hostile rivalries: united In spirit and
purpose they cannot be disappointed OF
their peaceful destiny.
This Is Pan-Americanism. 1t has none
of the spirit Of empire in 1t. 1t Is the en-
bodiment, the effectual embodiment. OF
tho spirit Of law and independence and
liberty and mutual service.
There Is. venture to point out, an espe-
cial Significance 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 healthful tasks. In
the performance of these tasks believe
the Americas to be destined to play their
parts together. I am interested to fix
your attention on this prospect now be-
cause unless you take 1t within your
view and permit the full significance Of
It to command your thought I cannot
find the right light In which to set forth
the particular matter that lies at the
very front OF my whole thought as adj
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 beiligerent They do not seek or de-
sire war. Their thought Is Of Individual
liberty and OF the free labor that supports
life and the uncensored thought that
10 C<<n xAok ax.A I<xx lat oxa
not In our reckoning. or agreeable to our
principles. But just because we demand
unmoiested development and the undis.
turbed government Of our own lives upon
our own principles of right and liberty.
we 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 ma
-tional development. We do more than
that. We demand II also for others. We
do not confine our enthusiasm for indi-
viduai liberty and FREQ 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 wall. In these difficult paths OF
Independence and right. From the first
we have made common cause with al
partisans of liberty on this side Of the
sea. and have deemed It as important
that our neighbors should be free from
all outside domination as that we our.
selves should be: have set America aside
as a whole for the uses OF Independent
nations and political freemen.
Might TO Maintain Right.
Out Of such thoughts grow all our poll
Z cies We regard war merely as a mean.
OF asserting the rights OF a people agains
aggression. And we are as fiercely jeal
Gus OF coercive or dictatorial power with
IN our own nation as of aggression from
without. We will not maintain q stand
ing army except for uses which are a.
necessary In times OF peace as in time'
of war: and we shall always see to 4
that our military peace establishment 4
no longer than is actually and continuous
~ needed for the uses of days In which
no enemies move against US. But W,
do believe In body OF free citizens read,
and sufficient to take care of themselves
and OF the governments which they hav,
get up to serve them In our constitution
themselves we have commanded that 9Th,
right OF the people to keep and bea
arms shall not be infringed," and on
confidence has been that our safety Ii
times of danger would lie in the rising o
the nation 10 take care of itself. as tn,
farmers rose at Lexington.
But war has never been a mere matte
Of men and guns. II is a thing Of disci
plined might. II our citizens are ever 4
fight effectively upon a sudden summons
they must know how modern lighting 1
done. and what to do when the summon
comes TO render themselves tmmediatel,
available and Immediately effective. An,