Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-05-31
I. R. ADDRESSES
CIVIL WAR VETS
Urges Universal Training, Based
on Universal Service for the
Youth Of Today.
MUST ASSERT OUR
RIGHTS" HE SAYS

Kansas City, Mo-, May 3O.-Univer-
sal training based upon universal ser
vice was urged upon the youth of the
nation by Theodore Roosevelt in :
Memorial Day address, delivered here
today as "a message to all Americans
before Civil War veterans Of the North
and the Confederacy. Hn. ~.
Appealing, he explained, to ''the
spirit thoroughgoing Americanism in
all our people," the former President
declared that those who assert that
there is no danger of the United States
ever being attacked are either ignor
ant or forgetful Of the multitude of
examples which show how interna
tional conflicts arise, and that 1T is
likely that if we are not strong enough
to maintain our rights, including 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 national
greatness.
'"The people must choose as their
executive and legislative leaders at
Washington" Col. Roosevelt said,
men absolutely national in spirit;
men whose theory of government is
as far as the poles from the pork
barrel theory--and this, whether the
pork-barrel be considered from per-
sonal, political or sectional standpoint;
men who look forward and not back;
men who face the facts as they actual
ly are.
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 prin-
ciples so as to meet the future, we
shall be as foolish as if we were to
arm our soldiers with t1intlocks and
send them against an army possess
ing machine guns, high power rifles |
and modern artillery.
"The time for fintlock 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 paci-
fists 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 or right and
wrong, of force or feebleness. Accord
ing to the spirit in which we face
these facts and govern our actions,
we shall determine whether in the
future we shall enjoy growing ma
tional life or suffer lingering nation
al decay
Col. Roosevelt urged the nation to
beware of the false prophets
fessional pacifists, who, he declared,
do not serve high ideals. '1n actual
practice" he said. ''the professional
pacifist is merely the tool of the SEN
,ual materialist who has no ideals,
whose shriveled soul is wholly absorb
ID in automobiles, and the movies, and I
and in the policies of
he cash register and the stock ticker,
ind the life OF fatted ease
War Peril in Pacifism.
Theodore Roosevelt carried his !
that there was war peril I
n pacifism to all classes of people !
lere toay. A group Of children who u
greeted him on his arrival were told .
o prepare The little band of Civil
var veterans in the crowded conven- 4
ion hall, to whom his remarks in
lis main address were principally d.
'ected, heard the same warning. I
Coming to the question of an inva-
ion of our shores by foreign source
Re said that if an army half the size
f. that which attacked the Dardan-
Hes should attack this country, Am
.rica would be at its mercy. =
The Colonel deviated from his t.
peech to say a facetious word about fl
dexico. :.
He also touched on the question of i
n
at has been said," he declared, !.
that the west is not interested, be- c;
ause it would not suffer from war.A