The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-01-30

stitution itself, put under the author
ity of more than two score state
executives. The president OF the
United States has not the right to
call those men except in the case Of
actual invasion. But 1t is not in this
arm that we are Immediately inter-
ested. We are interested in knowing
that there are men all over the Unit
ed States, prepared, equipped and
ready to go out at the call of the ma
tional government, upon the shortest
possible notice. You will ask me,
why do you say the shortest possible
notice?' Because, gentlemen, let me
tell you very solemnly, you cannot at
know what single day may bring
forth
'I merely want to leave you with
this solmen impression, that I know
that we are daily treading amidst the
most intricate dangers, and that the
dangers are not Of our making and
are not under our control; and that
no man in the United States knows
what a single week or a single day or
a single hour may bring forth.
'All that I can do is to tell you
what I know Of the necessities of the
case. and to ask you to stand back
of the executive authorities OF the
United States in urging upoA them
who make their laws. early and effec-
tive action as possible.
America is not afraid OF anybody.
I know that I express your feelings
and the feeling of all our fellow citi
zens when I say that the only thing
I am afraid of, is not being ready to
perform my duty. l am afraid Of the
danger of shame; I am afraid OF the
danger of inadeQuancy; I am afraid of
the danger of not being able to ex-
press the great character OF this
country with tremendous might and
effectiveness whenever we are called
upon to act in the field of the worlds
affairs, for it is character we are go
ing to express, not power merely.
"The United States is not in love
with the aggressive use of power. It
despises aggressive use of power. l
hope that you will bear me out in say
ing that / have proved that l am a
partisan of peace. But l know that
peace is not always within the choice
of the nation, and I want to remind
you, and remind you very solemnly.
Of this double obligation you have
laid upon me:
eve are relying upon you, Mr..
President, to keep us out of this war,
but we are relying upon you, Mr..
President. to keep the honor Of the
nation unstained.'
do you not see that time may
come when it is impossible to do
both of these things? Do you not see
that II am to guard the honor Of the
nation, I am not protecting it against
itself, for we are not going to do
anything to stain the honor OF our
own country. I am protecting It
against things that cannot control.
the action OF others. And where the
action OF other may bring US. I can
not foretell. The real man beiis
that his honor is dearer than hts
life and that nation is nearly all Of
US put together. and the nations
honor is dearer than the nations COM
fort and the nations peace and the
nations peace and the nations life
itself. So that we must know what
we have thrown into the balance; we
must know the infinite issues which
are impending every day of the year.
Nations know that ever since we were
born as a nation, we have undertaken
to be the champions of humanity and
of the rights OF men. Without that
ideal, there would be nothing that
would distinguish America from her
predecessors in the history OF ma
tons"