The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-30
PRESIDENT IN
A CRAVE MOOD,
TALKS OF WAR
Necessity for Quick Action
Keynote of Preparedness
Address
DANGERS INFINITE
AND CONSTANT
We Are In a World We
Did Not Make and Can
not Alter, He Says
DANGERS INFINITE
AND CONSTANT
BY AssocnATrp PREss.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS.
Cleveland, Jan. 29.-The necessity
Tor quick action was made the key
note of President Wilson's prepared
ness addresses in Pittsburg and
Cleveland on the first day of his
weeks tour Of the Middle West. De
clarfng that 1--WE are in the midst Of a
world we did not make and cannot al
ter" he said it was his duty to inform
the people that the dangers are Sin
finite and constant"
New circumstances, he said, had
arisen which made il necessary that
this country prepare itself not for
war, nor aggression, but for adequate
national defense. The American neg
lect TO build merchant ships had left
the country dependent on other neu-
trails to carry the United States COM
merce and where the ordinary rules
of commerce at sea were apt be
thrust aside "there is danger Of a
more critical kind OF controversy"
Saying that the people who come
to the White House assert that the
nation is counting on him to keep the
United States at peace and in the
same breath insist that he maintain
the honor of the United States the
president asked: "Have you reflected
the time might come when could not
dosbct7a ?"
fare you ready TO stand behind the
government for maintenance of the
honor of your country 2"
He criticized the advocates of
"peace at any price" and also the adj
vocates of a large standing army.
National defense, he explained, was
not party matter, saying he was
sorry the issue arose in presidential
campaign year, because the danger Of
politics might cloud 1t. Congress, he
said, would do its part. But the issue
really lay with the young men, who
should volunteer, and their employers,
whe should not hinder them from re-
spending.
The president spoke at two meet
ings today at Pittsburg and one to-
night at Gray's arn1cry here. He win
spend Sunday in Cleveland, leaving at
midnight for Milwaukee to speak
there Monday.
In his speech tonight the president
spoke with greater gravity than
marked the others.
america is not afraid of anybody
he said. The only thing I'm afraid
of is the danger Of inadequacy. Let
me tell you solemnly, you cannot
postpone this thing. / do not know
what single day may bring forth -
For the first time he spoke of the
navy and coast defenses. He said ex-
perts agree the navy ranks fourth
and the defenses are good In quality
but not in quantity.
REPORTING TO THE PEOPLE
In Pittsburg the president declared
1 he was conscious of being a truant
from Washington, but that he felt it
his duty to report to the people ON the
affairs of the nation. He added he
got more inspiration outside Of Wash
ington than inside it.
II believe in peace. I love peace.
would not be true American If
did not love peace, but know that
peace costs something. That the only
way you can maintain peace Ia to
enjoy the respect of everybody with
whom you deal.
There are other counsellors whose
sources of counsel IL passion. 1t is
not wise nor possible to guide nation
al policy under the influence of pas
sion / would be ashamed Of the
passion Of fear.
america does not desire anything
other than freedom, justice and right
conduct
It Is time we attempted any way
TO apply the standard of our own life
to national defense. What do we want
to defend? Need / answer? We
want to defend the equal right of
the nation as against all other ma
ticns, and we want to maintain the
peace OF the Western hemisphere.
"These are our great needs of de-
Tense.
did you ever stop to reflect just
what it is that America stands for?
She stands for the sovereignty of
the self-governing people of the
6Contfnued ON para r.