Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-02-05
MUST Be ABLE TO
BACK UP PROTESTS
AMERICA CANNOT BE- AN os.
TRlcH WITH HEAD IN THE
SAND, DECLARES PRESIDENT.
Condemns Advocates OF War az Well
as Peace at Any Price Theorists
In Des Moines Address and De-
ciares Country 10 for Peace.

Des Moines, Ia--President Wilson
speaking here Tuesday night, dealt
with the futility of messages and
words of protest to meet breaches OF
international law.
do you want the situation to De
such that all the president can do il
to write messages and utter words Of
protest?" he asked, in advocating
preparedness before the largest audi
ence of his present trip.
why, to ask that question Is to
answer it, he said.
Whenever international law is VIC
lated by one or the other belllger'
ents," the president said, America
was called upon to register a voice
of protest, OF insistence'.'
There are actually men In America
who are preaching war, the president
declared; men who want the United
States to have entangling alliances
abroad. He said he did ont think they
spoke the voice of America, which he
declared to be for peace.
He added that others go further
than he, in advocating peace: They
preach the doctrine of peace at any
price," he said, while men in the
audience called Never, never" lie
said these men did not know the cir
cumstances of the world.
America cannot be an ostrich with
its head in the sand" he said.
The presidents address was punctu-
ated with thunderous applause He
spoke slowly and grayely, with EN-
phatic gestures to enforce his words.
His declaration that the United
States wanted peace drew response
and his assertion that the self-respect
of the nation must be preserved, elic-
tied another great demonstration.
The president declared he was try
ing to weigh carefully every word he
said. He reiterated that he had been
daily charged to keep the country out
of war and also to uphold its honor.
THE difficulty of keeping America
1T peace" he said, during this titanic
struggle across the sea, cannot be dis
closed now; perhaps it never can De
disclosed. How anxious and how diff
ficua this task has been! But my heart
has been in it. | have not grudged a
single burden that has been placed
upon me with that end in view. For
know that not only my own heart
but the heart OF all America was in
the cause OF peace"
New York.-President Wilson on
Thursday night opened his personal
appeal to the country for national de-
fense. He gave warning that plans
for the readjustment of the army
must be formulated and carried out
without delay, and solemnly declared
he could not predict that the outlook
for the United States would be as
bright tomorrow as today. Speaking
at banquets of the Railway Business
association and the Motion Picture
Board of Trade, he sounded the key
note of addresses that he will deliver
in the middle west.
Mr.. Wilson was in fighting mood
throughout his address. In a speech
delivered early in the day he declared
he always accepted an invitation to
fight. At night he told the railway
men he was an advocate of peace and
had struggled to keep the United
States at peace, but he considered the
liberty and honor of the nation even
more important than peace
Woe to any man who plays mar
plot or who seeks to make party. po-
Iitical or perconal ambition
take precedence over candor,
honor and unselish, bipartisan
service" said the president, in
speaking of his defense plan before
the railroad men. He declared that
the country expects action; this is a
year of accounting, and the account
ing must be definite on the part of
the parties and ON the part of every
individual who wishes to enjoy the
public confidence.
For my part hope every man in
public life will get what's coming to
him." said Mr.. Wilson, amid laughter
and applause.
The president admitted that In a
message to the last congress he had
said the need for preparedness was
not pressing He declared that he
had learned differently in the mean
time. lie cited his recent support OF
a tariff commission as another in
stance of change on his part, but de-
clared there previously was no need
for a commission.
Mr.. Wilson spoke of men of high
character, who were clouding the pre-
paredness issue. He declared they
were provincial, and that the United
States could no longer cut itself on
from the rest of the world.