Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-20

icSSncSS than that which We had so
amply provided at Washington"
We must make this nation as strong
AS are it's convictions in reference Ia
right and wrong declared Colonel
Roosevelt 1T little matters what our
ideals may be and what achievements
we may hope for. IL these ideals and
achievements cannot be reduced to ac-
ton The events OF the past, and the
events Of to-day show that national
ideals amount to nothing II tho nation
lacks the power to maintain them
against opposition
Therefore. If we are to win at home
against those Of our fellow citizens
who believe in the policy OF unpre-
paredness. that is. OF national weakness
and inefticiency. we must have strong
and well-reasoncd convictions and eX-
press them with strength and sincerity
y considerable part of the strength OF
Mr.. Ford in the, primaries. and Of the
strength Of the advocates Of half
preparedness at Washington. comes
from the fact that no real alternative
of policy is offered with sincerity and
fearlcssness'
In urging universal military service
pdSeu ON uulNeTS training, SOlOnel
Roosevelt said he believed in II because
II would be not only Of iRcalculable
bencf, to the nation in the event OF
war, but Of iucalculable benefit to the
individuals undergoing II. and. there
fore. 10 the nation. as regards the work
Of peace. He continued
Il believe that tho dog tent would
prove most effective agent for
democratizine and nationalizine our
life: quite AS much so AS the public
school. and far more SO than the
American factory and the American
city AS they are to-day. Preparedness
through universal service would turn
out 10 be the best possible school OF
practical civics In such n school all
men who are Americans In spirit would
get together and learn TO work to-
among our people in social and indus
trial life. Such cooperation will
secure not merely liberty and oppor-
tunity. but also the sense Of obliga :
! tion-which is just as important as
! the other two
I'VE must abolish pork barrel
methods in the army-as regards army
posts, naVy-yards, as regards every
thing else. Remember that after pre-.
parcdness has been accepted BIZ the
country and tho necessary funds voted
| the real work will have only begun
! EnGland's navy represents over three
centuries and Gcrmany's army over
two centuries OF development along
an unbroken line OF tradition and prog
ross 10 the present stage OF efficiency
The first and all-importanu essential
is 10 divorce the army and navy or
Ganizauons absolutely from politics.
NAVAL PARTY IN GERMANY
ADVOCATES WAR WITH 4. s.
Colonel Roosevelt asserted that 1.-The
extreme naval party I'm Germany has
recently advocated war with the United
States on the ground that in the end
as the result OF such war. we would
have to pay All the war expenditures
OF the Germanic powers and their al.
lies.
These enormous sums would be
raised by taxation on all our citizens
he said. those OF German descent
would pay as heavily as those Of any
other descent and all would share
equally the shame and dishonor. 4
foreign foe is the foe or all Of us alike
II in this land the citizens OF one ma.
tional origin successfully set the
fashion OF influencing this nation TO its
own detriment in the interest OF the
country from which they originally
came. sooner or later u is absolutely
certain that the citizens Of some other
national origin will repeat the expert
ment: and this country will be left
degraded and helpless among the ma
lions. II such an event bcfalIs US, the
bitter bread of humiliation will be
eaten by all-those who dwell in this
land. no matter what their creed. no
matter what their national origin. II
will be eaten by your children and
grandchildren and great grandchildren
just s much as by mine.
"Americanism is matter of the
spirit. not Of birthplace or descent
Among the best Americans I have ever
known. among the men closest to me
in social and political life. are. and
have been, men born in. or men whose
fathers were born in. Germany. ireland
the Scandinavian Kingdoms. and other
European countries. They stand on
an exact level with the other Ameri-
cans, whose ancestors were here in
Colonial times We are all part OF the
same people.
we all stand together for our com
mon flag and our common country. We
must so prepare that this country will
be good place in which the children's
children of all Of us shall live: and
to do this we must So prepare that we
can repel all foreign foes and pre-
serve the inestimable right of settling
for ourselves the fate OF this mighty
democratic republic. But the essence
OF this policy of full preparedness.
which, remember, is not only military.
but Al least as much industrial and
social. is that ii is purely defensive
and is the hest possible assurance OF
peace. No nation will ever attack q
unified and prepared America"