Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

IhE PhESIDENI y MESSAGE
FT1HE President uses -Americanism as
la stepping stone to bring him ito the
particular matter that lies at the very front
of my whole thought as 1 address you today.
1 mean national defense"
The Pan Americanism which he defines
assumes unity of purpose on the part of
the nations of this hemisphere on a foot
ing of genuine equality. and a general ad-
herence to those principles which have come
to be associated with republicanism as
practiced in the new world. These Amer
lean nations must be cooperating friends,
not hostile rivals. There is breath of
Idealism in this part of the message, akin
to that which permeated the Presidents
earlier announcements relative to Mexico,
yet there is in 1t also the seed of pro-
gram which may be of great value. The
difficulty with the President has been and
is his inability to distinguish between real
republican government and organized ter
rorism masquerading in republican garb.
The President has grasped firmly the idea
that efficient preparation is as necessary in
military as in industrial matters. "War has
never been a mere matter of men and guns.
1t is thing OF disciplined might"
AS to the method of preparation recon-
mended, it is proposed to have regular
army of about 100000 men and a supple
mentary militia of 100000, raised in incre-
ments of $4,000 a year. There is some
vital Importance 1t is clear that full debate
and discussion must be prerequisites to the
adoption of any formal program. It may
well be doubted, for instance, if the plan is
adequate in view of the prodigality of mod
ern warfare both in men and munitions.
The naval program, which would provide
for 81 battleships OF the first line, built or
building, by 1921, six battle cruisers and a
strong second line, forms the basis for real
1t presupposes the enlarge
ment of Annapolis in order that sufficient
officers to take care of the new fleets would
be ready.
The President makes his merchant marine
puchase scheme a constituent part OF his
program. He AYERS that the
marine has been ruined by "inexcusable
neglect and indifference and by hopelessly
blind and provincial policy of called eco
nomic protection" The fact is, of course,
that there has been no economic protection
whatever. the exact opposite being true.
The reform of the Government of the Phil
ippines is again recommended Reports from
the islands indicate that reform is urgently
needed. owing to the Generalization which
has followed Governor Harrison's tenure of
ONCE. but not the kind of reform which the
proposes.
In order TO avoid a probable deficit in June,
ss17, Of 1896 900 900 the President favors the
retention Of the emergency war taxes and
also of the duty on sugar, which under the
present law would be discontinued May l. He
objects. very wisely, to mortgaging the Pam
anna Canal TO secure funds, and proposes,
very unwisely. additional imposts on gasoline.
internal explosion engines, bank
checks. pig iron and fabricated iron and steel
II the majority follows this recommended
Hon the return to power of the Republican
party is imminent, for these proposed taxes
are actually levies against industry and prog
ress devised to make the manufacturing
States bear the most of the burden. They
are sectional in the first place. which ought
10 damn them. and they are utterly unjusti-
fed. in the second place. 1t is against all
precedent TO multiply internal taxes when the
tariff Is SO low as at present. The Democratic
plan is not only to refuse even incidental pro-
lection to industry, but actually to imperil its
still further by extra taxes
A most satisfying part of the message is
that in which Congress is urged to save the
honor and self-respect of the nation" by
snaeting laws TO curb pseudo-Amerieans who
have poured the poison Of disloyalty into the
very arteries OF our national life" It is in
deed time TO uproot this sort of Americanism
and extrpate it. Congress should be quick
. follow this suggestion and elothe the courts
at once with fun authority to deal with this
new species Of snake which has dared raise
its head.
The message. N spite q many faults. IS ex-
eeeasnelx satisfactory a that il takes strong
ssaaa foF he principle q defense and pre-
szIsaness Therein Z seaess II fselins d