The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-09-09

country has not been drawn into this
frightful maelstrom is due, in part
to the good fortune of our isolation
from the European countries; that we
have kept free from entangling com
pacts of offense and defense, and that
in President Wilson we have had
guide who has fully measured up TO
the responsibility of a great occa-
sion; who has been cool when others
were excited, firm when others vac
illated, and who in his superb effort
to maintain peace and the national
honor. has won the praise and un-
bounded confidence of his country
men of all creeds and parties.
National Development.
"While we are taught more and
more by the ruthless havoc in the old
world to abhor war and cling to our
ideals of peace, we cannot escape the
conviction that in our national deVel-
opment we have become the richest
most enyied. and most defenseless of
the important nations of the earth
AS a government it seems to me that
we cannot rest secure in our present
position. In making reasonable and
Just demands upon other nations for
the protection of American property
and lives and the freedom of the
seas. we should not be without means
at our command to enforce them.
"An open sea and unrestricted
commerce, the safety of the lives anc
property of our people everywhere
should not be left to the caprice OF
favor of any nation, but at all times
and under all circumstances WI
should be in a position not only II
assert, but to maintain these primar.
and fundamental rights, for any gov
ernment that fails in these will even
tually fail as a government.
1--WE have undertaken to make eff
fective the Monroe doctrine, whicl
will be one of increasing difficulty II
the future; also an open door polio
for China; and, in addition, we hav
duties and responsibilities in remot
insular possessions, none of whic
we are able to discharge with ou
present inadequate military and ma
val equipment.
"The fault cannot be traced to an
party or any president. 1t is tn
fault of the complacence of the Am
erican people, who, in the pursuits {
peace, had forgotten, before the worl
war reminded them, that they ha
neglected ordinary and obvious metf
ods of self-preservation and defence
To Strengthen Navy.
"If elected to the senate / sha
7 advocate peace, not only for OF
I country, but for all other countrie
: and arbitration among the natior
h whenever that will preserve peac
q but at the same time shall use n
q best efforts to steadily increase ar
strengthen our navy until it sha
a reach the point that it will be II
=, equal of any other navy, and sha
J. also advocate an army of sufficiel
6 numbers and equipment to at lea
= be effective as nucleus of defen
q against invasion from any quarter.
d II am glad that our President
Il giving this subject his considerable
4 for he, like others, has realized tn
the time has come for a change
N our national policy. The oversha
O. owing Importance of an adequate al
4. proper equipment, consonant wi
N our position as nation, and with t
te immense interests at home al
n. abroad. can scarcely be overstate
ID mot only as a means of preservi
Id the integrity of our government, b
of as the safest and wisest insuran
n. against war and national degrac
of ton.
NJ National Organization and Efficien'
in Entertaining the view that t
nd powers of the national governme
ur should be fully and freely exercis
~ Look out for hot days--Cholt