Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-09

the equal Of any afioat. that we had not
the guns. ammunition or equipment to
put a large army into the field. But
with an army outnumbering that of any
in the field in the present war. or a
navy more powerful than that which
makes England secure in her island
home, with stores of ammunition and
an abundance of the largest guns yet
built. if the American people were not
ready in spirit for the conflict all these
preparations would be unavaiiing.
Your President but gave expression
to the feelings of every American heart
when he said of our country, God help
ing her she can do no other America
. had been made ready for the contest
where the first preparation must be
made in a great republic, and that is
| in the hearts OF her people. The re-
Spouse which has been made demon
strates wonderful unanimity of thought
and of purpose on the part of all The
greatest loan made by any nation in
the worlds history was voted freely
and with so little opposition that it is
scarcely worth mentioning. Senators
and Congressman who had opposed the
! administrations domestic policies glad
| Nv gave their support to the President
| when he spoke words of true Amer
| icanism and they had confidence that
| every attempt had been made to avoid
/ entering the struggle. the consequence
| of which were fully seen by him who
was charged with the full responsible
| ity of speaking for this great nation of
| free people.
| The people and the press of the coun-
! try have forgotten all little partisan
| differences and everywhere there burns
| the same spirit in the hearts of Amer
| lean citizens that fires you and causes
| you to give expression to the outburst
| of patriotism shown here.
! I'VE must have armies fully equipped
and trained in the use of the terrible
| instruments of human destruction. We
must have munitions Of war and shells
! loaded with the highest explosives, aero
planes for both the army and the navy
| to swell the great aerial fleet of our
| allies: we must have submarines to pro-
! tect the entrance to our harbors. larger
| guns for our coast defense, more men
| to man them; more cruisers and battle
! ships for our navy and upon their decks
| American bows whose hearts swelling
| with pride with the traditions of our
! naval achievements, will enable us to
| prove as we have in the past, Americas
!. supremacy upon the ocean; boys who
! remembering the achievements of Paul
| Jones, Perry, Farragut and Dewey, Will
have confidence in their present great
! commanders and show themselves the
| worthy sons of those who in the days
| when we were a weak and nearly bank
/ rupt nation, dared to challenge the
! mighty mistress of the seas to naval
! combat.
| Congress has voted for conscrip-
| ton bill which will soon become a law
| Many a member put aside ms long chcr-
| ished belief in a volunteer system ana
voted for CONSUMPTION because nc was
| convinced that in this pressing elner-
gency and need there is no other way
! TO raise the necessary forces. Splendid
! ly have Congress and the whole Amer
| lean people risen to the emergency INTO
| which they have been thrown.
| 1t is indeed to be a supreme test of this
nation and no thinking man can fan to
realize the seriousness of the war. We
are to meet no feeble foe We are to fight
+, across an ocean at tremendous disad-
yantages. We must transport our troops
I there and then We must provide them
| with food and clothing and all the equip
ment needed by great army. Besides.
we must feed our own people and furnish
! food in large quantities for our allies ana
the starving people of Belgium who have
SO strongly appealed to our hearts.
| We are all at war, not only those whose
glory and privilege it shall be to gather
| beneath the folds of our starry banner
in the field or where 1t floats so proudls'
from the vessels of our navy, but those
of us who remain at home, some Of US too
old and others too young for active ser
| vice. as well as the noble women of
Maine. Our legislature acted promptly
! and registered it's devotion to it's coun-
! try's cause By a most liberal appropria.
! ton of million of dollars to assist the
| federal government in defending our
State. Our chief executive has been most
active and thrown all the energy of his
vigorous mind and body into the work of
| preparing his State and his people for
the great conflict into which we have
entered His absence from these exercises
today, which l know he wished to attend,
and which wished him to grace with
i his presence. attests his great interes,
in the discharge of the great responsible
ty which rests upon him. for he is now
present, with the governors Of sister
states. as Washington, to confer with the
officers of the federal government in re-
gard to the manner in which Maine and
her citizens may cooperate The COM
mittee upon public safety appointed for
the State and for the counties, have as
! sumed with readiness. and even eager