The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-07
People Of America Have
Genius For Peace


No one who really eomprsnends the
spirit OF the great people for whom we
are. appointed to speak can fail to per-
ceive that their passion Il for peace,
their genius best displayed in the prac-
tice OF the arts OF peace. Great democ-
racles are not belligerent. They do not
seek or desire war. Their thought u OF
individual liberty and of the free labor
that supports life and the uncenBored
thought that quickena II. CONQUEST and
dominion are not in our reckoning. or
agreeable to our principles. But just
because we demand unmolested develop
ment and the undisturbed government
Of our own lives upon our own prin-'
ciples OF right and liberty, we resent,
from whatever quarter Il may come,
tho aggression we ourselves will not
practice. We insist upon security in
prosecIting our self-chosen lines Of ma
tlonal development. We do more than
that. We demand II also for others.
we 90 not confine our enthusiasm for
velopment to the incidents and move
ments OF affairs which affect only our
selves. We feel It wherever there Is q
people that tries to walk in these diff
cult paths OF independence and right.
From the first we have made common
cause with all partisans OF liberty on
this side OF the sea, and have deemed
II ig important that our neighbors
ahOuAu NC ATNc from all OUTSIDE comma
ton as that we ourselves should be:
have set America aside 90 a whole for
the uses OF independent nations and po-
liticaf freemen.
Out Of such 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 hercely jealous Of coercive or dicta.
torial power within our own nation as OF
aggression from without. We will not
NnNAtn a HAa
uses which are as necessary in times Of
peace as In times OF war; and we shall
always see to II that our military peace
establishment Il no larger than 10
actually and continuously needed for
the uses of days in which no enemies
move against us. But we do belleVe
In body Of free citizens ready and suf-
fcient TO take care of themselves and
or the governments which they have set
ub to serve them. In Qua constitutions
themselves we have commanded that
the right OF the people TO keep and
bear arms shall not he infrinRed." and
in times OF danger would lie In the
rising Of the nation to take care or
itself, as the farmers rose at Lexington.
But war has never been mere mat
disciplined might. II our citizens are
ever to fight effectively upon sudden
l summons. they must know how modern
| fighting Is done, and what to do when
| the sumnnnS comes 10 rehoer theW-
| selves Immediately available and imme-
4 diately effective. And the Government
| must be their servant Ia this matter,
| must supply them with the training
/ they need to, take care OF themselves
i and OF It, The military arm Of their
| Government. which thev will not allo"
i to direct them, they may properly use
/ TO serve them and make their indopen-
dence secure--and not their own s4nde-
| pendence merely but the rights also OF
those with whom they have made COIN
mon cause should they also be nut IN
ieopardy They uust be fitted to play
the great role IN the world, and particu'
larry in this hemisphere. for which theN
are qualified by principle and by chnS
tened ambition to play.