Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-01
We MUST KEEP WAR
FROM SPREADING To
THIS SIDE OF OCEAN
III Must Tell You Dangers Are
Infinite and Constant" He
Says in Addresses at Pitts
burg and Cleveland
lBy Associated Press.)

Wilson, speaking, as he said, solemn
ly," warned the nation tonight that the
time may come wnen he cannot both
keep the United States out of war and
maintain it's honor. He declared that
the country must be prepared TO defend
itself and prepared at once
America is not afraid of anybody
he said. Il know l reflect your feeling
and the feeling of all of our citizens
when l say the only thing 1 am afraid
Of it not being ready to perfom my
duty. L am afraid of the danger OF
inadeQuacy; L am afraid of the danger
of not being able to express the chief
character of this country with tremen-
dous might and effectiveness whenever
We are called upon to act in the field
of the worlds affairs"
The president spoke in Cleveland to-
night with more gravity and force than
he has shown during any of his previ-
Gus addresses on preparedness.
He was applauded frequently and
when he spoke of defending the nations
honor the cheering was tremendous.
Let me tell you very solemnly you
cannot postpone this thing" he de-
clared. 81 do not know what a single
day may bring forth. do not wish
to leave you with the impression that
l am thinking of some particular dan
ger.
INTRICATE DANGERS
Il merely wish to tell you that we
are daily treading amidst intricate dan
gers. The dangers that We are tread
ing amongst are not of our own MAX
ing and not under our control 1 think
no man in the United States knows what
single week, single day may bring
forth"
Again and again the president spoke
of the nations honor. He declared the
real man believes his honor is dearer
than his life and a nations honor is
dearer than it's peace and comfort. He
said it had been difficult to keep the
United States out of the war and he
felt he had proved he was a man of
peace when possible.
The regret that. the question has
come up in campaign year was ex-
pressed by Mr.. Wilson.
Let us forget" he said, that this
is year of national elections" The
preparedness issue, he added, should
have nothing to do with politics.
For the first time during his present
tour the president spoke of the navy
and of the coast defenses. The latter.
he said, are good in quality but not
in quantity.
Some people say that the navy ranks
second. he declared, but the experts
agree it ranks fourth. He added II
should be increased.
PREPAREDNESS NECESSARY
Among the possible sources of danger
Intentional by the president were the diff
ficulties growing out of the protection
of Americans abroad and the obligation
of the United States to maintain the lib
critics of the people of the western hem
isphere.
New circumstances have arisen, the
President declared today, which make
it absolutely necessary that this coun-
try shuld prepare for adequate pational
defense
1--WE are in the midst of a world that
we did not make and cannot alter" the
president said. "Its whole atmospheric
and physical conditions are the condi.
lions of our own life also; and therefore
as your responsible servant | must
tell you that the dangers are inf1nits
and constant.
81 should feel that / was guilty OF
an objectionable omission if ] did not
go out and tell my fellow countrymen
that new circumstances have arisen
which make 1t absolutely necessary that
this country prepare herself, not fol-
war, not Tor anything that SmackS in
the least of aggression, but for ade.
quate national defense"
Americas improvident neglect to build
merchant ships. the president said in ex-
PLANTATION, had left the country depend
ent upon other nations to carry it's
commerce, nations now at war all
friends Of America, but preoccupied
stubbornly steadfast in the maintenance
of their main purpose.
Wherever the ordinary rules of com.
merce at sea and of international rela-
tionships are apt to be thrust aside OF
ignored" he continued "there is dan.
ger of the more critical kind of contro-
versy.
URGES QUICK ACTION.
The necessity for quick action was
made the keynote of the presidents
preparedness addresses in Pittsburg and
Cleveland in this, the first day of a
weeks tour of the middle west. He
told of difficulties encountered in main
tanning the peace and upholding the
honor of the United States at the same
time. Two things, he said, were told
him by almost every one who came to
the White House. One was that the peo-