Oxford eagle., 1916-08-31

nelds OF commerce or OF any otner
peaceful achievement. We mean 10
HIVE our own lives ss We will. but
we mean also TO let live We are.
indeed. a true friend 10 all the M
tons of the world. because We
threaten none. covet the posses
sions OF none. desire the over
throw OF none. Our friendship
can be accepted and is accepted
without reservation, because II is
offered In q spirit and for q pur-
pose which no one need ever dues-
ton or suspect Therein lies our
greatness. We are the champions
Of peace and of esneorc. And ws
shouid be very jealous OF this dis
tnction which We have sought -
earn Just now We should be par
tfcularly Jealous Of u. because II
is our dearest present hope that
this character and reputation may
presently. In Gods provfdsnsA
srtnx Us an opportunity such -
has seldom been voashsafed any
nation. the opportunity 10 counsel
and obtain peace IN the world and
reconcfif.ttou and q healing set
tisment of many q matter that has
cooled and interrupted she friend
ship OF nations This h the time
above all others vhsn We should
wish and resolve 20 kssp our
strength by seif-posssssion. our
influence BY preserving our an
efent principles Of action
PROM the nrst We have haA .
clear and settled policy with 70
gard 70 military establishments
We never have had. and while ws
retain cur present principles ard
IDEALS ~e never shall have. q large
standing army. " as<sd. Are ysu
ready to defend yourselvesf ~s
reply. Moss assurediy, TO the IT.
most: ard yet ~e shall net turn
srerIea Into q military camp. We
wiil not ask our youno men %
spend the best years Of their lives
making soIdiers of themselves.
There r. another sort OF energy
IN us. Il will know how to ds-
clare itself and make itself sffso-
tive should occasion arise And
especially when half ths world 10
sn FIRE ~e shall be careful 10 make
esr moral Insurance against the
spresd cs the eorfacrstlon very
cehnlte ard certain and adequate
indeed
let us remind ourselves, there-
fore, Of the only thing We can DO
or win DO. We must dspsnd In sx-
ely time Of national peril. In the
future. - In the past. not upon q
standing army, nor yet upon .
reserve army. but upon Q eitixenry
trained and aeeustoned 20 arns-
n viii be right enough, right
American policy. based upon our
aecustomsd principles and prac-
tees. TO provide o system BY
which every citizen who VII val
untesr for the training may bs
made familiar WITH the use Of
modern arms. the rudtmeuta Of
6rfl and msneuver. and the main
tenancs and sanitation OF camps.
We shcuic encourage ssch train
Ing and make Il q nnesns of disci-
piine which eur young men viii
learn % value. II is right that
We should provide Il not only, but
thAt ~ should make II ~ attrac-
tive - possible, and 90 induce our
young men TO undergo Il at such
times as they can command Q 1T
tie freedom and can seek the
physical Development they nssd,
for mere healfh's sake. II for moth
ing more. Every means BY which
such thinSs can be stimulated b
legitimate, and such q method
smacks Of true American ideas.
u 10 right. too. that the National
Guard Of the States should be de-
veiopsd and strengthened by ev-
cry msans which 10 not lnconsise-
ent with our obligations 20 cur
own people or with the establish
cd policy of our Government And
this, also, not because the time
occasion specially calls for such
measures. but because II should be
our constant policy 10 make these
provisions for our national peace
end safety.
-Mors than THE, carriss with n
Q resersal Of the whole history
and character Of our policy. More
than thIs. proposed at this time,
permit me to say, would mean
mersay that we had lost our SELF
possession, that we had been
thrown on our balance by q war
with which We have sething 10 do,
whose eausss cza not touch us,
whose very existence sfFords 10
opportunities Of frtsndship and
cisintsrsstsd service which should
make us Ashamed q any thought
Of hostility or fsarfA pssoaration
for trouble This 10 assurediy ~
opportunity for which q people
and Government like osrs were
ralssd up, the opportunity not only
10 speak but actually to embedy
and sxempiify the eounssis Of
peace and amlty and the lasting
concord which 10 based on Jus
tiee and fair and generous dealing.
"a powerful Navy we have al
ways regarded a. eur proper and
natural means Of defense; and Il
has always been Of defense that
we have thought, never Of sggres-
sion or Of conquest. But who shall
tell w now what sort Of navy to
buiidf We shnki tain IoavN n BE-