Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-31
an entirely trivial incident, and feels
that no weight should be attached to it,
Universal Military Training
Based on Universal Service,
Urged in Kansas City Speech

KANSAS CITY. Mo. May S1.-Uni-
versal training. based upon universal
service. was urged upon the youth of
the nation by Theodore Roosevelt in a
Memorial day address delivered here
yesterday afternoon. as "a message to
all Americans before civil war vet
Grams of the North and the Confed-
eracy.
Appealing, he explained. to the spirit
of thoroughgoing Americanism in all
our people" the former President de-
clared that those who assert that
there is danger of the United States
ever being attacked are either ignorant
or forgetful of the multitude Of exam
pies which show how international
conflicts arise. and that lit is
likely that if we are not strong
enough to maintain our rights. in
Guiding the assertion of the Monroe
doctrine" the United States will be
subject to aggressions which it would
be obliged to resent or else abandon its
ma tional greatness.
executive and legislative leaders at
Washington" Col Roosevelt said. men
absolutely national in spirit: men whose
theory of government is as far AS the
and this whether the pork barrel be
considered from a personal, political or
sectional standpoint: men who look
forward and not back men who face
the facts as they actually are.
New Europe After War.
After this war we shall see a new
Europe. Europe energetically devel
oping new social and economic means
of meeting new problems.
IF, under these circumstances, we
take refuge in formulate dug out from
the wreckage of principles in the past.
instead of developing these principles
to meet the future, we shall be
as foolish as if we were to arm our
soldiers with f1ntlocks and send them
against an army possessing machine
guns, high-power rifles and modern ar
tillery.
The time for f1intlock theories of
craftsmanship in this country is past"
Col. Roosevelt said his address was
directed with equal emphasis to the
soul qualities of the men who followed
Grant and of the men who followed
Lee but that he made no appeal ito
the memory of the copperhead pacifists
who put peace above duty
This is one of the great years of
decision in our national history" he
said. The way in which we now de-
eide will largely determine whether we
are to go forward in righteousness and
power or backward in degradation and
weakness. We are face to face with
the elemental facts of right and wrong,
of force or feebleness. According to
the spirit in which we face these facts
and govern our actions. we shall de-
termine whether in the future we shall
enjoy growing national life or suffer
a lingering national decay"
Warns of False Prophets.
Col. Roosevelt urged the nation to
beware of the false prophets"-pro-
fessional pacifists, who, he declared do
not serve high ideals. I'm actual prac-
tice,' he said, the professional pacifst
is merely the tool of the sensual ma
terialist who has no ideals, whose
shriveled soul is wholly absorbed in
automobiles. and the movies, and
money making. and In the policies of
the cash register and the stock ticker,
and the life of fatted ease"
Two years ago these false prophets"
said there would never be another war,
the colonel said. adding; Let US not
be misled again" Even should peace
come in Europe tomorrow, he declared,
it ought not to affect American policy
of preparedness.
Col. Roosevelt reiterated his views
lHdl tHe amer itdH llSet SnOuI6 nave
been modified at the beginning of the
war. "a competant man put at the head
of the Navy Department and the army
prepared.
Il believe in international duty" he
said. The duty of a nation like
ours cannot be considered as If we
stood alone in the world. We are one
of a community Of nations and the eff
fective condemnation of wrong doing
by that community is the great force of