Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-28

We should go into Mexico do you know
what would happen? All the sympathy
Of the rest Of America would look across
the water, and not northward, to the
great republic which we profess to rep
resent. And do you not see the conse-
quences that would ensue in. every inter-
national relationship? Have the gentle
men who have rushed down to Washing
ton to insist that we should go into Mex
leo reflected upon the politics of the
world? Nobody seriously supposes, gen.
tlemen, that the United States needs to
fear an invasion Of its own territory.
What America has to fear, If she has
anything to fear, are indirect. roundabout.
flank movements, upon her regnant posi-
ton in the western hemisphere. Are we
going to open those gates, or are we going
to close them? For they are the gates
to the hearts Of our American friends to
the south Of us. and not gates to the
ports. Win their spirits and you have
won the only sort Of leadership and the
only sort of safety that America covets
We must all of US think from this time
out. gentlemen, in the terms of the world
and must learn what it is that America
has set out to maintain as standard
bearers for all those who love liberty
and justice and the righteousness Of po-
litical action.
The Means at Hand
But. gentlemen, we must find means
to do this thing which are suitable to
our own ideals, suitable to the time and
suitable to our own ideals Suitable to
time. does anybody understand the
time? Perhaps when you learned, as
dare say you did learn beforehand
that I was expecting to address you on
the subject Of preparedness, you re-
called that address which 1 made to
Congress something more than a year
ago in which 1 said that this question
of military preparedness was not a
pressing question. But more than a
year has gone by since then and 1
would be ashamed If I had not learned
something in fourteen months. The
minute I stop changing my mind as
President with the change of all the
circumstances in the world l will be a
back number.
The Tariff Board
There is another thing about which
1 have changed my mind, A year ago
l was not in favor of a. tariff board and
| will tell you why: Because then the
only purpose of a tariff board was to
keep alive an Improbable CONTROVERSY.
If you set up any board Of inquiry
whose purpose it is to keep business
disturbed and to make it always an open
ID
about the public policy Of the govern
ment am opposed to it, And the very
men who were DINING it into our ears
that what business wanted was to be
let alone were many of them men who
were insisting that we should start up
a controversy that meant that we could
not let it alone. There is a great deal
more opinion VOCAL in this world than
is consistent with logic.
But the circumstances of the present
time are these: There is going on in the
world, under our eyes, an economic rev.
olution. No man understands that revo-
luton: no man has the elements of it
clearly in his mind; no part of the bust
ness of legislation with regard to inter-
national trade can be undertaken until
we do understand 1t. And members Of
Congress are too busy, their duties are
too multifarious and distracting. to make
is possible within sufficiently short
space of time for them to master the
change that is coming 1 hear a great
many things predicted about the end of
the war, but don't know anything about
what is going to happen when the war
Is over, and neither do you.
There are two Numerically opposed
views as to immigration. Some men tell
us that at least million men are going
to leave the country and others tell us
that many millions are going to rush into
1t. Neither PARTY knows what they are
talking about and I am one OF those
prudent individuals who really like to
know the facts before he forms an opin-
ion; not out Of wisdom, but out of pru-
dence. I have lived long enough to know
that if / do not. the facts will get away
from me. I have come to have whole
some respects for the facts. have had
to yield to them sometimes before 1 saw
them coming and that has led me to keep
a weather eye open in order that I may
see them coming.
There is so much to understand that
we have not the data to comprehend that
for one would not dare. so far as my
advice is concerned. to leave the govern
ment without the adequate means of in
quiry.
But that is another parenthesis.
What I am trying to impress upon you
now Is that the circumstances Of the
world today are not what they were
yesterday. or what they were in other
yesterdays and that it is undertain what
they will be tomorrow. I cannot tell
you what the international relations Of
this country will be tomorrow and I
use the word literally. And I would
not dare keep silent and let the coun-
try suppose that tomorrow was GER
tain to as bright as today. America
will never be the aggressor; America
will always seek to the last point at
which her honor is involved 20 avoid
the things which disturb the eace of
the world. But America does not con-
troll the circumsta nces of the world and
We must be sure that we are faithful
servants Of those tn ngs which We love,
and >are ready to defend them against
every contingency that may affect or
impair them.
Not for Miiitarism
But as was saying a. moment ago,
we must seek the means which are con-