Milford chronicle., 1925-10-09

people of the nation as Well No'
only those who heard the address
but, also, those who read 1t, arc
firmly convinced that President Cool
idge has given much thought to the
welfare of the nation and that he
entertains the hope that America
example to the rest of the world Will
prove to be of much benefit to man
kind throughout the universe. I'M
portant programs for the advance
ment of our people are shown 10
have been carried out to successIul
conclusions, while other suggestions
were made in the address which, II
followed. would bring additional
happiness and prosperity to the ma
ton.
The President stated that no one
can ever doubt the place oil auec-
tion and honor which the veterans
will hold forever more in the heart
of the nation. He said that It was
all a Glorious story of American en-
terprise and American Valor' NJ
Coolidge stated that the MAGNITUDE
of the service rendered by those VIM
served under the Stars and StIlpes
was bevond estimation. lie sald thaI
the victory gained by our soldiers
and their foreign comrades repre-
eanted on the battlefield the unlteu
efforts of our whole people. He stat
cd that the men of war had leaI-
firmed the position of this nation IN
the estimation of mankind; that they
bad saved civilization from a Slgah-
tic reverse, and that nobody says
now that Americans cannot hght'
Snealxing of matters affecting our
own welfare and domestic problems
which resulted from the war, MI
Coolidge said that the chief OF [hese
,yoe the care and relief of the az
fIictad and their dependents. He salu
that tbis was a tremendous task Oh
which abOut three billion dollars mas
already been expended
Touching upon the next most
pressing problem, viz the Dette1
ordering of the finances OF the Id
tion the President said, "Our SOV
ernment was costing almost more
than it was worth. 1t had more peo-
nIe on the pay roll than were nee
esearv all of which made expenses
too much and taxes too high. ne |
said that government expenditures
5a,Jo heen almost cut in two; that
taxes have been reduced, anu Ii5'o
the incoming Congress will proVlue
further reductions. E,
Regarding disarmament, ne Salu'
1--WE have been attempting to relieve
ourselves and the other nations from
the old theory of competitive arm
aments. In spite OF all the aIsu-
ments in favor Of great mlIltdIy
forces. no nation ever had an army
large enough to guarantee 1t against
attack in time of peace or 10 insure
its victory in time of war. NO Ia
+ion ever will. Peace and security
are more likely to result from IalI
and honorable dealings, ana nlutuai
agreements for a limitation OIL arm
aments among nations, than by any
attemnt at competition in squadrons
and battaIions. No doubt this couh-
trv could. if it wished to spend more
money, make a better military IoIce'
but that is only part Of the proDIeH
which confrOnts our Government
The real question is whether spend
ing more money to make Detter
military force would really make I
better country. 1 would be the last
To disparage the military art. IL IS |
an honorable and patriotic calling
of the highest rank. But 1 can see |
no merit in any unnecessary eXpend- |
iture of money to hire men to build |
fleets and carry muskets when IN
ternational relations and agreements |
permit the turning of such resour-
ces into the making of good roads,
the building of better homes, the |
promotion of education, and all the
other arts of peace which minister
to the advancement of human well
fare. Happily, the position of our
country is such among the other
nations of the world that we have
been and shall be warranted in pro-
ceeding in this direction. Our peo-
pie have had all the war, all the
taxation, and all the military service
that they want. They have therefore
wished to emphasize their attach
ment to our ancient policy of peace.
They have insisted upon economy.
They have supported the principle
of limitation of armaments."
In speaking of the military prob
lens, the President pointed out that
there is one principle that is eX-
ceedingly important, and that is that
our institutions are founded not on
military power but on civil authOri-
ty; that we are irrevocably commit
ted to the theory of a government by
the people; that, while we have our
Constitution and our laws, our ex-
ecutives, our legislatures, and other
courts, ultimately we are governed
by public opinion. Speaking of mill
tarism, Mr.. Coolidge said, when
ever the military power starts dicta- ,
ting to the civil authority, by what
soever means adopted, the liberties
of the country are beginning to end.
National defense should at all ;
times be supported, but any form of !
militarism should be resisted"
In regard to the matter of nation
al defense the Chief Executive said {
that one of the most important pro- ]
visions in the preparation for ma {
tional defense is a proper and sound
selective service act. He said that {
such law ought to give authority t
for a very broad mobilization Of all {
the resources of the country, both {
persons and materials, and that I
there is little defense which can be S
made of a system which puts some !