The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-08

mercial relations Of the republics OF the
two continents which nature and political
fortune have so intimately linked to.
sether. j earnestly recommend to your
perusal the reports OF their proceedings
and OF the actions of their committees.
You will get from them. I think, a fresh
conception of the ease and intelligence
and advantage with which Americans of
both continents may draw together In
practical cooperation and OF what the
material foundation Of this hopeful part.
ne1ship Of interest must consist,-of how
we should build them and of how neces-
sary 1t Is that we should hasten their
building.
81 Mean National Defence"
There Is. I venture to point out. an
especial Significance Just now attaching
10 this whole matter Of drawing the
Americas together in bonds of honorable
partnership and mutual adv: ntaRe be-
cause OF the economic readjustments
which the world must Inevitably witness
within the next generation, when peace
shall have at last resume its heaithful
tasks. In the performance OF these tasks
believe the Americas to be destined 70
play their parts together. I am interested
10 fix your attention on this prospect
now because unless you take Il within
your view and permit the full significance
or 1t to command your thought I cannot
md the right light In which to set forth
the particular matter that lies ut the very
front OF my. whole thought as I address
you to-day. l mean national defence.
NO one who really comprehends the
spirit OF .he great people for whom We
are appointed to speak an fail to per-
ceive that their passion is for peace.
their genius best displayed In the prac-
tice of the arts of peace. Great
democrac'es are not ~belligerent. They
do not seek or desire war. Their thought
Is OF individual liberty and OF the free
labor that supports life n the uncen-
sored thought that Quickens II. Con.
quest AMI dominion are not In our reck.
oning or agreeable to our principles. But
Just because we demand unmolested de.
velopment and the undisturbed govern
ment OF our own lives upon our own
principles OF right and liberty we resent
from whatever quarter II may come the
aggression We ourselves will not practice.
We insist upon security i'm prosecuting
our self-chosen lines Of national Develop
ment. We do more than that We de-
mand u also for others. We do not
%confine our enthusiasm for individual
liberty and free national development to
h incidsnts and of affairs
which AFFECT only ourselves. We feel Il
wherever there IL "a people that tries to
walk In these difficult paths Of indepen.
dence and right. From the first we have
made ommon cause with all partimns
of liberty q Il this side the sea and have
deemed II as important that our neigh.
bors should be free from all outside
domination. ~ hat we ourselves should
be have act America aside as a whole
for the uses OF, independent nations and
political freemen.
War Only Against Aggression.
Out OF ruch 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
fiercely Jealous OF coercive or dictatorial
power within u own nation as OF ag-
gression from without. We will not
maintain n standing army except. for
uses Which are az necessary in times Of
! peace rs in times OF war, and we shall
always see to II that our military peace
establishment q no larger than is actu.
ally and continuously needed for the
uses OF Gays In which no enemies move
against IN. But we do believe in a body
OF free citizens ready and sufficient TO
take care OF themselves and of the
governments which they have set up to
serve them. In our constitutions them-
selves we have commanded that the
right of the people to keep and bear
arms shall not be ~!nfringed." and our
confidence has been that our safety in
times OF danger would lie in the rising
Of the nation to take care OF itself, as
the farmers rose at Lexington.
But war has never been "A mere matter
;, meu A.l guns, Is " thing OF us
cipiiheo W.kht. II our citihehs are ever
To figh effectively upon a sudden sum-
mons they must know how modern Tight
ing Is done and what to do when the
nnnI .'''eo 40 ,o''uos themselves
inhI1eu'aless a'a''apie ana lmine-
n ". " $50" ~ ,nis
u"'' ~ = ~ '"hv o"Ie oi
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- ~ 80, ~ M P'op'
slis ."ein y" '.aAe 'helr IN
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om. ,n.'. pu. ~
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iar,r ,n ,h,. " =. ~ ips -,
ar az nem.spnefs; TOT ~n,un tmsy
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'"'
Urges Prcparedness,
~ - WIN tness deals III nina Una.
me pans or inc Department or war
y more nauoha neIehee were
Wv MI'ch urge you 10 ssulc.'on III
properly scrutinized and discussed They
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