The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-07

/ ana lIdI
| their growing sense of community
| or interest, alike in matters po-
ltlcaI and in matters economic,
is likely to give them n new
significance as factors in internal
tiOnaI affairs and in the political
| history of the world. 1t presents
them as in Il very deep and true
sense unit in world affairs,
spiritual partners, standing to-
gether because thinking together,
quick with common sympathieS
and common ideals. Separated
they are subject to all the cross
of world of hostile riVaIrieS:
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 it. 1t is the embodiment, the
effcctual embodiment. of the
spirit of law and independence
and liberty and mutual service.
a very notable body of men recently
met in the City of Washington, at the
invitation and as the guests of this
Government, whose deliberations are
likely to be looked back to as mark
ing memorable turning point in the
history of America. They were rep
resentative spokesman of the several
Independent states of this hemis-
phere and were assembled to discuss
the financial and commercial relations
which nature and political fortune
have so intimately linked together. 1
earnestly recommend to your peruSal
the reports of their proceedings and
of the actions of their committees.
You will get from them, l think a
fresh conception of the ease and in
telligence and advantage with which
Americans of both continents may
draw together in practical co-opera-
ton and of what the material foun-
dations of this hopeful partnership of
interest must consist-of how we
should build them and of how neces-
sary it is that we should hasten their
building.
There is. 1 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-
lieve the Americas to be destined to
play their paris together. 1 am inter
ested to fix your attention on this
prospect now because unless you take
it within your view and. permit the
full Significance of it to command
your thought cannot find the right
light in which to set forth the partic-
ular matter that lies at the very front
of my whole thought as I address you
today. 1 mean national defense.
No one who really compre-
hendS the spirit of the great peo-
pie for whom we are appointed
to speak can fail to perceive that
their passion is for peace, their
genius best displayed in the prac-
tice of the arts of peace. Great
dcmocracies are not beIIigerent.
They do not seek or desire war.
Their thought is of individual lib
erty and OF the free labor that
supports life and the uncensored
thought that quiclSenS it. Con-
quest and dominion are not in our
reckoning, or agreeable to our
principles. But just because we
demand unmOlested development
and the undisturbcd government
of our own lives upon our own
principles of right and liberty. we
resent, from whatever quarter it
may come, the aggression we our
selves will not practice. We in
SiSt upon security in prosecuting
our Self-chOsen lines of national
development. We do more than
that. We demand it also for
others. We do not confine our
enthusiasm for individual liberty
and free national development to
the incidents and movements of
affairs which affect only our
selves We feel 1t wherever there
is a people that tries to walk in
Vi
cnce and right From the first
we have made common cause of all
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 that we ourselves
should be; have set America aside
as a whole for the uses of indie
pendent nations and political free
men.
ONT of Sr,cb tbOuohtS erroIU all O,r
policies. We regard war merely i |
means of asserting the rights of a !
people against aggression. And we |
are fiercely jealous of cOercive or |
ton of aggression from without. +
We will not maintain a standing army /
except for uses which are as necessary |
in times of peace as in times of war;
and we shall always see to it that our /
peace establishment is no /
larger than is actually and continu- /
ously needed for the uses of days 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 the govern /
mentS which they have set up to serve /
them. In our constitutions themselves /
we have commanded that the right of /
the people to keep and bear arms shall I
not be infringed," and our confidence !
has been that our safety in times of /
danger would lie in the rising of the |
nauOn to take care OF itself as the
farmers rose at Lexington.
But war has never been n mere
matter of men and guns. 1t is a
thing of disciplined might. If our
citizens are ever to fight cffcc-
lively upon n sudden summons.
they must know how modern
fighting is done, and what to do
when the summons comes to rem
der themselves Immediately avail
able and Immediately effective.
And the government must be
their servant in this matter. must
supply them with the training
they need to take care of them
selves and of it. The military
arm of their government, which