Arizona sentinel Yuma southwest., 1915-12-09

dDI0 dSSOCldJlOu Ol pdIIuSIS U0LWSOu ourselves and our neighbors, in the in- terests of all America-North and South
 Our concern for the independence and the prosperity of the states of Central and South America is not al tered. We retain unabated the spirit that has inspired us throughout the whole life of our government and which was so frankly put into words by President Monroe We still mean always to make common cause of national independence and of political liberty in America But that purpose is now better understood so far as it concerns ourselves. It is known not to be selfish purpose. It is known to have in it no thought of taking ad- vantage of any government hemisphere or playing it's political for tunes for our own benefit All the governments of America stand, so f as we are concerned, upon a footin- of genuine equality and unquestioned independence."
 We have been put to the test in the case of Mexico, and we have stood the test" declared the President. He add ed that it remained to be seen whether Mexico had been benefited by the course taken by the administration, but that i've have at least proved that we will not take advantage of her in her distress and undertake to i'm pose upon her an order and govern ment of our own choosing"
 ''The moral is" continued the Presi- dent, ''that the states of America are not hostile rivals but cooperating friends, and that their growing sense of community interest, alike in matters political and in matters economic is likely to give them a new significance as factors in international affairs and in the political history the world. It presents them as in very deep and true sense a unit in world affairs, spir- 1tual partners, standing together be- cause thinking together, quick with common sympathies and common ideals. Separated they are subject to all the cross currents of the confused politics of world of hostile rivalries; united in spirit and purpose they can not be disappointed of their peaceful destiny.
 T am interested to fix your atten- tion on this prospect now, because un- less you take it within your view and permit the full significance of it to command your thought I can not find the right light in which to set forth the particular matter that lies at the very front of my whole thought as I address you today I mean national defense'
 The passion of the American people, the President declared, was for peace: that conquest and dominion was not in their reckoning nor agreeable to their principles.
 But just because we demand un- molested development and the undis turbed government of our own lives upon our own principles of right and liberty, he said, i've resent, from whatever quarter it may come, the az gresslon we ourselves will not prac- t1ce. We insist upon security in pros. cutting our self-chosen lines of national development We do more than that We demand it also for others"
 War, the President declared, was re- garded by the United States merely as means of asserting the rights of a people against aggression, and that i've are as fiercely jealous of coercive or dlctatorial power within our own na- tion as from aggression from with out" He said the nation would not
 
 maintain a standing army except for uses which are as necessary in times of peace as in times of war, but that the country did believe, in a body of free citizens ready and sufficient to take care of themselves and of the government
 But war has never been a mere matter of men and arms,' he continu- ed. Tt is thing of disciplined might. If our citizens are ever to fight effec- lively upon a sudden summons. they must know how modern fighting is done, and what to do when the sum- mons comes to render themselves i'm available and immediately And the government must be their servant in this matter, must supply them wit hthe training they need to take care of themselves and of it. The military arm of their gov ernment, which they will not allow to direct them, they may properly use