Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-03

eral financial credits, in order that our
resources may, so far as possible, be
added to theirs. 1t will involve the or
ganization and mobilization of all the
material resources of the country to
supply the materials of war and serve
the incidental needs of the nation in
the most abundant. and yet the most
economical and efficient way possible.
1t will involve the immediate full
equipment of the navy in all respects,
but particularly in supplying it with
the best means of dealing with the
enemy's submarines. 1T WILL IN
VOLVE THE IMMEDIATE ADDI-
TON TO THE ARMED FORCES OF
THE UNITED STATES ALREADY
PROVIDED FOR BY LAW IN CASE
OF WAR. AT LEAST 100000 MEN.
WHO SHOULD, IN MY OPINION, BE
CHOSEN UPON THE PRINCIPLE
OF UNIVERSAL LIABILITY to SER
vice and also the authorization of sub
sequent additional increments of equal
force so soon as they may be needed
and can be handled in training.
1T will involve, also, of course, the
granting of adequate credits to the gov
ermnment sustained, I hope. so far as
they can equitably be sustained by the
present generation by well-conceived
taxation. l say sustained SO far as
may be equitable by taxation because
it seems to me that it would be most
unwise to base the credits which will
now be necessary entirely on money
borrowed. 1t is our duty. l most re-
spectfully urge, to protect our people
so far we may against the very
prin ha 1Shi md lie 1r,hi n1,
would be likely to arise out of the in
fiation which would be produced by vast
loans.
In carrying out the measures by
which these things are to be accomplish
ed, we should keep constantly in mind
the wisdom of interfering as little as
possible in our own preparation and in
the equipment of our own military
forces with the duty-for it will be q
very practical duty-of supplying the
nations already at war with Germany
with the materials which they can OBJ
tain only from US or by our assis-
lance They are in the field and we
should help them in every way to be
effective there
| shall take the liberty of suggest
| ing. through the several executive de-
partments of the government for the
consideration of your committees meas
ures Tor the accomplishment of the sew
eral OBJECTS | have mentioned | hone
'hat 1t VIII be your pleasure to deal
with them as having been framed af-
| Ter very careful thought by the branch
ol the government upon which the re-
spohslbillty of conducting the war and
! safeguarding the nation will most d.
rectly fall
While we do these things. these
deeply momentous things. LOT ne ho VOW,
clear and make very clear RI all ~.
| "orld what our motives and orr o,,.
Jects are My own Thought has NOT
peeh driven from it's habitual and nor
,ii'i course by the unhappy events of the
ihst Two months and 1 do not believe
',ie 'hought OF the nation has been
altered or c1ouded by them.
| nave exactly the same tbin,s i,
nina now that had in mind when 7 adj
dressed the Senate on the End of Ian.
uarg' last; the same that l had in mind
! "heh L addressed the Congress on tho
th1rd OF February and on the osth ~
FEBRUARY. Our object now as than &c
10 indicate the principles of neace and
the justice In the life of the world &c
against selfish and autocratic power and
10 SET up amongst the really free and
| sell governed peoples of the world such
concert OF purpose and of action as Will,
hehceforth insure the observance OF these
principles.
Neutrality Not Feasible
Neutrality is no longer feasible or de-
slrable where the peace of the world
| is involved anG the freedom of irs npo
| pies. and the menace to that Deace and
freedom lies in the existence of auto
i cratic governments backed by organized
force which is controlled wholly bv their
! VIII, not by the will of their people. We
/ nave seen the last of neutrality in sucn
| circumstances
We are at the beginning of an age l..
which it will be insisted that the same
standards OF conduct and of Responsible
ty for wrong done shall be observed
among nations and their governments
! that are observed among the individual
citizens of civilized states
We have no quarrel with the Cor
man people. We have no feeling to-
wards them but one of sympathy and
friendship. 1t was not upon their i'm
pulse that their government acted in
entering this war. 1t was not with their
previous knowledge of approval
1T was a war determined upon as
wars used to be determined upon in
the old. unhappy days. when peoples
were nowhere consulted by their rul-
ers and wars were provoked and waged
in the interest Of dynasties or Of lit
tie groups Of ambitious men who were
accustomed to use their fellow men as
pawns and tools.
'Self-governed nations do not fill
their neighbor states with spies or set
the course of intrigue to bring abdnt
some critical posture Of affairs which
Will give them an opportunity to strike
and make conquest Such designs can
be successfully worked only under COW
er and where no one has the right to
ask questions.
"Cunninsly contrived plans of de-
ception or aggression, carried. it NAV
be. from generation to generation can
be worked out and kept from the light
only within the privacy of courts or
behind the carefully guarded confidence
es OF a narrow and privileged class.
They are happily impossible where
lysrt IT.