Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-12-10
ASKS ADEQUATE
DEFENSE FOR US.
President Wilson Pleads for Pre-
paredness Against Foes
Abroad and Within.
MESSAGE READ TO CONGRESS-
Larger Army and Navy Urged
Trained citixenry the Nations
Greatest Defense = Disloyal
Acts Of Forelgn-eorn citi-
zens scored-No Fear
Of War.


Of War.
Washington. Dec. 7.-At a Joint session
OF the house and senate the president to-
day delivered his annual message. lie
said In part as follows:
Since | last had the privilege OF ad-
dressing you on the state OF the Union
the war OF nations on the other side of
the sea. which had then only begun to
disclose It's portentous proportions. has
extended its threatening and sinister scope
until Il has swept within its flame some
portion OF every quarter of the globe, not
excepting our hemisphere, has altered the
whole face OF international affairs. and
now presents a prospect OF reorganiza-
tion and reconstruction such as states
men and peoples have never, been called
upon 10 attempt before
We have stood apart. studously neutral.
IL was our manifest duty to do so. In
the day OF readjustment and recupera-
ton we earnestly hope and believe that
we can be OF infinite service
In this neutrality. to which they were
hidden not only by their separate life and
their habitual detachment from the poll
tics OF Europe but also by clear per-
ceptlon OF International duty. the states
OF America have become conscious OF
new and more vital community OF inter-
clearly conscious of the many common
sympathies and interests and duties which
bid them stand together.
We have been put to the test In the case
Of Mexico. and we have stood the test.
Whether we have benefited Mexico by
the course we have pursued remains to
be seen. Her fortunes are In her own
hands. But we have at least proved that
we will not take advantage OF her In her
distress and undertake to impose upon
her an order and government Of our own
choosing.
We will aid and befriend Mexico. but
we will not coerce her; and our course
proof to all America that we seek no po-
nticel suzerainty or selfish control
Not Hostile Rivals.
The moral is. that the states OF Amer
lea are not hostile rivals. but cooper
ating friends, and that their growing
sense of community OF interest. alike In
matters political and in matters econom-
&c. Is likely to give them new signii-
canoe as factors In international affairs
and In the political history of the world.
IL presents them as In very deep and
true sense a unit in world affairs, spir-
itual partners, standing together because
thinking together. quick with common
sympathies and common ideals. Separat-
ed. they are subject to all the cross cur
rents OF the confused politics OF a world
OF hostile rivalries; united in spirit and
purpose they cannot be disappointed OF
their peaceful destiny. W..
This ls Pan-Americanism II has none
OF the spirit of empire In it. 1t is the en-
bodlment, the effectual embodiment, of
the spirit OF law and independence and
liberty and mutual service.
There Is. venture to point out. an espe-
cial significance just now attaching to
L. uhaI. .mfN ~ Asosa h.
icas together IN bonds OF honorable part
nershp and mutual advantage because of
the economic Establishments 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 believe
the Americas 10 be destined to play their
parts together. am interested to fix
your attention on this prospect now be-
cause unless you take It within your
view and permit the full significance OF
II 10 command your thought l cannot
md the right light In which to set forth
the particular matter that lies at the
very front OF my whole thought as I ad-
dress you today I mean national de-
fense.
no one who really comprehends the
rpirit OF the great people for whom we
are appointed to speak can fall to per-
celve that their passion Is for peace, their
genius best displayed in the practice of
the arts Of peace. Great, democracies are
not belligerent They do not seek or de-
niro war. Their thought IL OF individual
liberty and OF the free labor that supports
NE and the uncensored thought that
quickens u. Conquest and dominion are
not In our reckoning. or agreeable to our
principles But just because we demand
unmolested development and the undis-
turbcd government OF our own lives upon
OWn nfI of "a Oh uA
we resent. from whatever quarter Il may
come, the aggression we ourselves will not
prastico. We insist upon security in
prosecuting our self-chosen lines Of ma
honai development. We do more than
that. We demand Il also for others. We
do not connne our enthusiasm for indi-
vidual liberty and free national develop.
mont TO the Incidents and movements OF
anairs which affect only ourselves. We
feel Il wherever there Is a people that
tries to walk in these dificult paths oi
Independence aud right. From the first
we have made common cause with al
partlsans OF liberty on this side of tn,
soa. and have deemed II as important
that our neighbors should be free from
all outside domination as that we our
selves should be: have set America asid,
as whole for the uses of Independent
nations and political freemen.
Might TO Maintain Right.
Out OF such thoughts grow all our poll
cies. We regard war merely as a mean
of asserting the rights OF people agains
aggression. And we are as fercely jeal
Gus OF coercive or dlctatoriai power with
in our own nation as OF aggression fror
without We will not maintain a stand
ing army except for uses which are q
necessary In times OF peace as In time
of war and we shall always see to
that our military peace establishment
no longer than Is actually and continuous
ly needed for the uses of days In whic
no enemies move against us. But W
do believe In a body of free citizens read
and sufficient to take care of themselve
and OF the governments which they hav
set up 10 serve them. In our constitution
themselves we have commanded that "th
right OF the people to keep and bes
arms shall not be infringed." and OF
confidence has been that our safety
times OF danger would lie In the rising
tho nation TO take care of itself, as II
farmers rose at Lexington.
But war has never been a mere matt,
of men and guns. II is n thing of disc
pllned might. II our citizens are ever
hght effectively upon a sudden summon
they must know how modern fighting
done, and what to do when the summon
GENES to render themselves immediate
available and Immediately effective. Al