New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-03-02

nation. 1t would be most lmprudent
to be unprepared.
| cannot in such circumstances be
unmindful of the fact that the expir-
alton Of the term of the present Con
greSs is Immediately at hand, by ON
stitutional limitations, and that II
would in all Likelihood require an un-
usual length of time to assemble and
organize the Congress which is 10
succeed 1t.
| feel that | ought, in view of that
fact. to obtain from you full and i'm,
mediate assurance OF the authority
which | may need at any moment To
exercise. No doubt | already possess
that power without special warrant OF
war, by the plain Implication OF my
constitutional duties n powers, but
| prefer, in the present circumstances,
not to act upon general implication.
wish to feel that the authority and the
power OF Congress are behind Inc ID
whatever it may become necessary for
mt to do. We are jointly the servants
OF the people, and must act together,
and in their spirit, SO far as We can
divine and interpret it.
No one doubts what is our duty. We
must defend our II lives
OF our people in the midst OF the pres
ent trying circumstances, with dlScre'
ton, but with clear and steadfast pur-
pose. only the method and the extent
remain TO be chosen, upon the occa-
sion, il occasion should indeed arise.
Since it has unhappily proved impos-
sible to safeguard our neutral rights
by diplomatic means against the un-
warranted infringemenls they are suf-
tering at the hanus OF Germany, there
may be no recourse but armed neutral
ity, which We shall know now to main.
tain and for which there is abundant
American precedent.
1t is deyoutly to be hoped that it
will not be necessary to put armed
force anywhere into action. The
American people do not desire it and
our desire is not different from theirs,
| am sure that they will understand
the spirit in which | am now acting,
the purpose | hold nearest my heart
and would wish to exhibit in every
thing | do. | am anxious that the PEG
pie of the nations It war also should
understand and not mistrust us. ]
hope that | need give no further proofs
and assurances than | have already
given throughout nearly three years
of anxious patience that / am the
friend of peace and mean to preserve
it for America SO long as | am able,
| am not now proposing or contem'
plating war or any steps that need
lead to it.
| merely request that you will ac
oprJ ma Inv ynI1r nWn Nntn and 1pfjnitG
bestowal the means and the authority
to safeguard in practice the right OF
a great people who are at peace and
who are DESTROYS Of exercising o n
but the rights of peace to follow the
pursuits Of peace in q%uietness and
good will-rights recognized time out
of mind by all the civilized nations OF
the world. No course of my choosing
or of theirs will lead to a Val can
come only by the willful acts and ag
g%ressions Of others.
You will understand why | car
make no definite proposals or fore
casts of action and must ask for your
supporting authority in the most gen
eral terms. The form in which ac-
ton may become necessary cannot
yet be foreseen. | believe that the
people are willing to trust me to act
with restraint. with prudence, and In
the true spirit of amity and good
faith that they have themselves dis
played throughout these trying
months; and it is in that belief that
| request that you will authorize me
to supply our merchant ships with
defensive arms should that become
,y on.l uifh tho nNnonC nf
using them, and to employ any other
instrumentalities or methods that
may be necessary and adequate tC
protect our ships and our people IN
their legitimate and peaceful pur-
suits on the seas. | request also that
YOU will grant me at the same time,
along with the powers | ask, a suffi'
cient credit to enable me to provide
adequate means Of protection where
they are lacking, including adequate
insurance against the present wal
risks.
have spoken of u commerce and
of the legitimate errands of our PEG
pie on the seas, but you VIII not be
misled as to my main thought, the
thought that lies beneath these
phrases and gives them dignity and
weight. 1t is not of material inter.
ests merely that we are thinking. 1t
is, rather, of fundamental human
rights. chief of all the right of life
itself. .
am thinking not only of rights OF
Americans to go and core about the!i
proper business by way OF the sea
but also of something much deeper
much more fundamental than that.
am thinking of those rights OF hu
mainly without which there is nc
civilization.
NV theme is of those great princt
pies of compassion and of protection
which mankind has sought to throw
about human lives, the lives of non
combatants, the lives of men who are
peacefully at work keeping the indus
trial processes of the world quick and
vital, the lives of women and children
and of those who supply the labor
which ministers to their s~ubtenance.
We are speaking of nj selfish ma
terial rights, but of rights which ouf
hearts support and whose foundation
is that righteous passion for justice
upon which all law, all structures
alike of family, of state, and of man
kind, must rest, as upon the ultimate
base of our existence and u liberty.
l cannot imagine a man with
American principles at his heart hes
itating to defend these things.
Wvomino Cowbovs Raisino REGIMENT