New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-01

duction, addressed the President as fol-
lows:
This, Mr.. President, in spite of itss
Instrumentation in spite OF the hurry
and hustle Of its life. in spite OF It's
wealth and complex interests, IN spite,
or perhaps because OF It's cosmopolitan
character, is an intensely patriotic city,
true 10 the best traditions of America,
and ever ready to give its loyal and
unstinted support TO the President or
the Republic in every crisis OF the ma
tons life. Witness the prompt and
enthusiastic response OF the men OF
New York to the call of few days ago
for the National Guard Of the state:
Let me say, sir, that New York CITY
never will be found backward or indit.
ferent in responding TO any further call
to patriotic duty that you may have
occasion 10 issue in the future. II
necessity should dictate that call, as
God forbid, just as these men have re-
sponded. so thousands on thousands OF
others in this city stand ready Loyalty
to respond and to place themselves at
your disposal TO do the nations service.
New York City pledges the nations
President an answering loyalty and
full measure OF support.
Times Troublous.
These are troublous times" he
went on, turning 20 the gathering. The
whole world beyond the Americas Is
convulsed. At home we are graphing
great and complex problems. More
thar one national crisis has presented
itself in the period of two brief years.
Never before were the burdens of gov
eminent so crushing or the response
bilities Of high Office so fearful to face.
1.-THE destinies of the republic, the
happiness, perhaps the Liberties, Of the
American people, the integrity OF demo-
cratic institutions, depend on decisions
that our President and people have
been and are still called upon 20 make.
No man can take these things lightly.
Yet should we not congratulate our
selves that we live in this day and gen.
Grafton and are permitted 10 have a
part in deciding these vital issues?
I've were engaged in the great strug-
gle TO make America effective. We
have evolved institutions Of free gov
ernment, We have developed ideals of
international equity. We stand in the
world for honorable peace, for justice,
for fair dealing, one nation with an
other, for the right OF free people
to pursue its destinies undisturbed by
selfish aggression. We are striving TO
develop for ourselves and for the world
an international system Of applied
ideals. This is the struggle to make
America effective-to vitalize her
ideals, to give them practical applica-
ton. And with this struggle, side by
side; yes, as condition precedent 10
its success. goes the great undertaking
OF to-day 10 make democracy efficient.
Here con this continent, under the
providence Of God. we have devised
free institutions for the self-govern-
ment of man that we confidently pro-
claim the best that human ingenuity
has yet been able 20 evolve. We have
created new and better social order
We have brought practical government
in nation, state and city TO a high
state Of seryiceable efficiency. We
have proved that democracy can be
efficient in dealing with all domestic
problems OF vast nation.
Democracy the Problem.
1--WE, however, have not yet proved
here in the United States that democ-
racy can be efficient in the funda-
mental, the primal task Of self-preser-
walton. without that all else is vain,
ovanescent, unsubstantial. il is TO the
task Of developing that capacity that
the nation is addressing itself to-day.
"The outcome will depend on whether
or not a democracy is too inherently
selfish and incurably shortsighted to
give, in times Of peace, the service of
its men 10 the preparation OF forces OF
defence, tina. war may never come.
These are the greatest problems Of
American life that we confront to-day.
On their solution the future Of democ-
racy and the vitality of American ideals
both depend. For my own part, | have
no doubt as to the outcome. The
American people may come slowly to
an understanding Of the issue, but
when they understand il American
manhood, American pluck, American
patriotism will decide it.