Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-11-12
Friday Morning. e. November IL, 1915
Wilson Sounds Call To Defense.

tration campaign for its national defense
program in comprehensive and carefully
preparedraddress delivered in New York on
Thursday night of last week at the Man
haitian Club banquet. He declared solemnly
that the United States had no aggressive
purposes, but must be prepared to defend
itself to assume full liberty and self-de-
velopment." Significantly, he said that
with ourselves in this great matter we
associate all the peoples of our own hemi-
sphere" adding that I'VE wish not only
for the United States, but for them the
fullest freedom of Independent growth of
action"
The President was received with enthu-
siastic applause as he entered the banquet
hall and during his address. The hall was
decorated with American flags and filed
even to the galleries with Democrats happy
over their victory of Tuesday in New York
city. When the President arose to speak.
every one jumped up applauded until he
was forced to signal for quiet
within year" said the President, I'VE
have witnessed what we did not think
possible, great European conflict involv-
ing many Of the greatest nations of the
world. The influences of the great war
are everywhere in the air. All Europe is
in battle. Force everywhere speaks out
with loud and imperious voice in a titanic
struggle of government. and from one end
of our own dear country to the other men
are asking one another what our own force
is, how far we are prepared to maintain
ourselves against any interference without
national action or development"
The President called upon "men of all
shades of political opinion" to rally to the
support Of the program. He said it rep
resented the best professional and expert
opinion Of the country" and gave warning
that IF men differ with me in this vital
matter shall ask them to make it clear
how far and in what way they are inter
ested in making the permanent interests
of the country safe against disturbance.
Outlining the defense program, the Presi-
dent said it included an increase in the
standing army, the training within the next
three years of 100000 citizen soldiers to
be raised in annual forces of $4,000, and
the Strengthening of the National Guard
He laid particular emphasis on the need
of ample equipment.
The President declared that the navy
already is very great and efficient
force" but that in order to bring it to a
point Of extraordinary force and eff
cheney" definite policy must be adopted
and FASTENED and an adequate supply of
men and equipment provided.
I'm the fulfllment of the program pro-
pose shall ask for the hearty support of
the country, of the rank and file of Ameri-
ca, of men of all shades of political opin-
ion. For my position in this important
matter is different from that of the private
individual who is free to speak his own
thoughts and to risk his own opinions in
this matter. We are here dealing with
things that are vital to the life of America
itself. In doing this have tried TO purge
my heart Of all personal and selfish mo-
tives. For the time being, speak as the
trustee and guardian of nations rights,
charged with the duty of speaking for that
nation in matters involving her sovereignty
"a nation too big and generous to be ex-
acting and yet courageous enough to de-
fend its rights and the liberties of its peo-
pie wherever assailed or invaded. would
not feel that was discharging the solemn
obligation | owe the country were not
to speak in terms of the deepest solemnity
of the urgency and necessity of preparing
ourselves to guard and protect the rights
and privileges of our people, our sacred
heritage of the fathers who struggled tC
make us an independent nation.
THE only thing within our own borders
that has given us grave concern in recent
months has been that voices have beer
raised in America protesting to be the
voices of Americans which were not il
deed and in truth American, but which
spoke alien sympathies, which came from
men who loved other countries better thar
they loved America, men who were part.
sans Of other causes than that of America
and had forgotten that their chief anC
only allegiance was to the great Govern.
ment under which they live. These voice.
have not been many, but they have beer
very loud and very clamorous. They have
proceeded from few who were bitter and
who were grievously misled, America ha:
not opened its doors in vain to men and
women out of other nations The vas
majority Of those who have come to tax,
advantage of her hospitality have united
tunes. These men who speak alien sym
pathies are not their spokesman, but ar,
the spokesman of small groups whom il i,
high time that the nation should call to {
reckoning The chief thing necessary il
America in order that she should let al
the world know that she is prepared L
maintain her own great position is thai
the real voice of the nation should sounC
forth Enthusiastically and in majestic volume
in the deep unison Of a common. unhesi
tating national feeling. do not doub
that upon the first occasion, upon the first
opportunity, upon the first definite chal-
lenge that voice will speak forth in tones
which no man can doubt and with com
mands which no man dare eainsay or re-
sist.
May not say. while am speaking Of
this that there is another danger that we
should guard againstS We should rebuke
not only manifestations of racial feeling
here in America where there should be
none. but also every manifestation of reli-
oious and sectarian antaRonsm, IL does