Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-11


opened the administration campaign for
Its national defense program In a com.
prehensive and carefully prepared ad-
oress delivered here tonight at the
Manhattan club banquet. He declared
solemnly that the United States had no
aggressive purposes. but must be pre-
pared to defend itself to assume full
liberty and acknowledgment" signif-
cantly he said that, with ourselves in
this great matter we associate all the
peoples Of our own hemisphere" adding
that. I'VE wish not only for the United
States, but for them the fullest freedom
Of Independent growth of action"
The President was received with en-
thusiastic applause as he entered the
banquet shall and during his address
The hall was decorated with American
flags and even the galleries we're filled
with democrats, happy over their VIC
tory In New York city When the Presi-
dent rose to speak everyone jumped up
and applauded again and again until
he was forced to signal for quiet.
within year. said the President,
Two have witnessed what We did not
think possible. great European con-
hict involving many of the greatest ma
lions Of the world. The influences Of
the great war are everywhere in the air
AL Europe Is in battle. Force every
where speaks out with loud and i'm
perious voice in a titanic struggle Of
government, and from one end of our
own dear country to the other men are
asking one another what our own force
Is, how far we are prepared to maintain
ourselves against any interference with
our national action or development"
The President called upon men Of
all shades Of political opinion" to rally
to the support of the program. He said
it represented the best professional and
expert opinion of the country" and he
gave warning that IF men differ with
me in this vital matter l shall ask them
to make it clear how far and in what
way they are interested in making the
permanent interests of the country safe
against disturbance"
NO PANIC HASTE.
mo thoughtful man." declared the
President, feels any panic haste in this
matter. The country is not threatened
from any quarter She stands in friendly
relations with all tho world. Her re-
sources 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 rea-
sonable men consider necessary for Sc
curity and self-defense on the part OF
every nation confronted with the great
enterprise Of human liberty and indie.
pendence. That Is all.
ASKS SUPPORT OF ALL.
"Is the plan we propose sane and
reasonable and suited to the needs OF
the hour? Does 1t not conform to the
ancient traditions Of America? Has
any better plan been proposed than
this program that we now place be-
fore the country? In it there is no
pride of opinion. 1t represents the
best professional and expert judg-
ment of the country. But l am not
SO much interested in programs as I
am in safeguarding at every cost the
good faith and honor Of the country.
II men differ with me in this vital
matter, l shall ask them to make II
clear how far and in what way they
are interested in making the perma-
nent interests of the country safe
against disturbance.
I'm the fulfllment Of the program
I propose I shall ask for the hearty
support Of the country, of the rank
and file Ct America, of men of all
shades Of political opinion. For my
position in this important matter is
different from that of the private in
dividual who Is free to speak his own
thoughts and to risk his own opinions
in this matter. We are here dealing
! with things that are vital to the life
of America itself. In doing this
have tried to purge my heart of all
personal and selfish motives. For
the time being, l speak as the trustee
and guardian Of nations rights,
charged with the duty Of speaking
for that nation in matters involving
her sovereignty-a nation too big and