The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1916-06-20

their industry or their enterprise,
but they insist upon having abso-
lutte freedom of national life and
policy and feel that they owe il to
themselves and to the role Of spir-
tied independence which it is their
sole ambition to play that they
should render themselves secure
against the hazard of Interference
from any quarter, and should be
able to protect their rights upon
the seas or in any part of the world
Adequate Army Favored.
We therefore favor the mainten.
ance Of an army fully adequate
to the requirements Of order, of
safety and of the protection of the
nations rights, the fullest develop
ment of modern methods, of sea-
coast defense and the maintenance
of an adequate reserve of citizens
trained to arms, and be prepared
to safeguard the people and terri
ftory of the United States against
any danger of hostile action. which
may Unexpectedly arise, and fix
ed policy for the continuous devel-
opment of a navy worthy to sup
port the great naval traditions of
the United States and fully equal
to the international tasks which
the United States hopes and ex-
poets to take part in perform
ing. The plans and enaetments of
the present Congress afford sub
stantial proof of our purpose in
this exigent matter.
The Democratic Administration
has throughout the present war
scrupulously and successfully held
to the old paths of neutrality and
of the peaceful pursuit of the legit-
innate objects of our national life,
which statesmen of all parties and
creeds have prescribed for them
selves in America since the begin
ming of our history. But the cir
cumstances of the last two years
have revealed necessities of inter-
national action which no former
generation can have foreseen.
We hold that it is the duty of
the United States to use its power,
not only to make itself safe at
home, but also to make secure its
just interests throughout the world,
and both for this end and in the
interests of humanity, to assist
the world in securing settled peace
and justice.
Must Respect Sovereignty.
We believe that every people has
the right to choose the sovereignty
under which it shall live; that the
small States of the world have a
right to enjoy from other nations
the same respect from their sover-
eighty and for their territorial in
tegity that great and powerful ma
tons expect and insist upon; and
that the world has right to be
free from every disturbance, of its
peace that has it origin in agrees
sion or disregard of the rights of
peoples and nations; and we believe
that the time has come when it is
the duty of the United States to
join with the other nations of the
world in any feasible association
that will effectively serve these
principles, to maintain inviolate
the complete security of the high
way of the seas for the common
and unhindered use Of all nations.
The present Administration has
consistently sought to act upon
and realize in its conduct of the
foreign affairs Of the nation the
principle that should be the object
of any association of the nations
formed to secure the peace Of the
world and the maintenance of ma
tional and individual rights. 1t has
followed the highest American ira
ditions. It has preferred respect
for the fundamental rights of
smaller States even to property
interests, and has secured the
friendship of the people of these
States for the United States by re-
fusing to make more material in
terest Can excuse for the assertion
of our superior power against the
dignity of their sovereign independ- !