The Washington times., 1916-01-28
TO RAILWAY MEN.


not make, which we cannot alter,
which we cannot think into a diff
ferent condition from that which
actually exists. 1t would be
hopeless piece of provincialism to
suppose that because we think diff
ferently from the rest of the world
we are at liberty to assume that
the rest of the world will permit
US to enjoy that thought without
disturbance.
II Is surprising circumstance
also that men should allow parti-
san 1eeling or personal ambition
70 creep ipto the discussion of this
fundamental thing tdefensel. How
can Americans differ about the
satety OF America?
we have preferred to be provin-
clal we have preferred to stand
pehlnd protecting devices. And
now we are thrust out to do, on a
scale never dreamed of in recent
generations in America, the busi-
ess of the world. We can not long
er be a provincial nation.
Let no man dare to say, If he
would speak the truth, that the
question of preparation for nation
al defense Is question of war or
OF peace.
There is no spirit of aggrandize-
on the part of any thoughtful and
conscientious American man to take
one root OF territory from any nation
IN the world. And i myself share to
Ihe bottom of my heart that pro-
round love for peace. / have sought
10 maintain peace against very
great and sometimes very unfair
ODDS, and l am ready at any time to
use every power that is in me to
prevent such a catastrophe as war
coming upon this country.
But, gentlemen, there is something
mat the American people love better
man they love peace. They love the
principles upon which their political
lite is founded. Because if
there Is one thing that the country
ought 10 night for and that every ma
non ought to fight for. II is the in
, tegrlty or its own convictions. We
cannot surrender our convictions. 1
would rather surrender territory than
surrender those ideals, which are
the staff of life for the soul itself.
Inc hrst and primary obligation is
the maintenance of the integrity of
our own sovereignty-which goes as
or course. There is also the main
tenanCe OF our liberty to develop our
politlcal institutions without hind
rance, and last of all there Is the de-
termination and the obligation to
stand as the strong brother of all
those IN this hemisphere who will
MAINTAIN the same principles and fol-
low the same ideals of liberty.
We have slowly. very slowly, in
ueed, begun to win the confidence of
the other states OF the American
hemisphere. II we should go into
Mexico, do YOU know what would
happen? All the sympathies of the
rest of America would look across
the water. and not northward. to the
great republic which we profess to
represent.
Nobody seriously supposes. gentle
men, that the United States needs %
rear an invasion of its own terri
tory. What America has to fear. IL
she has anything to fear. arc indi-
rect. roundabout. flank movements,
upon her regnant position in the
Western Hemisphere.
Perhaps when you learned that
was expecting to address YOU on
the subject OF preparedness YOU re-
called the address which / made TO
Congress something more than a
year ago, in which T said that this
question of military preparedness
was not'a a pressing question. But
more than year has gone by since
then. and ! would be ashamed If
had not learned something in four
teen months. The minute ! stop
changing my mind as President with
the change of all the circumstances
in the world l will be a back num-
Der.
There is another thing about
which | have changed my mind. A
year ago ] was not in favor OF
tariff board. And I will tell you
why: Because then the only purpose
of a tariff board was to keep alive
an Improbable controversy.
But the circumstances of the pres>
ent time are these: There is going
on in the world under our eyes an
economic revolution.
! hear r great many things pre-
diCted about the end Of the war. but
7 don't know anything about what
is going to happen when the war is
over, and neither do YOU.
America will never be the aGgres-
sOr. America will always seek to the
last point at which her honor is in
volved to avoid the things which dis
turb the peace of the world. But
America does not control the circum-
stances OF the world. and We must
be sure that we are faithful SER
wants OF those things which we love
and are ready to defend them
against every contingency that may
affect or impair them.