Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-30

of relying entirely on force and to
adopt the method Of relying more on
reason
II do not believe we can advance
the policy of peace by a return to
the policy of competitive arma-
ments." he asserted. while I
favor an adequate army and navy,
am opposed to any effort to
militarize this nation. When that
method has been worked out to its
logical consequences the result has
always been a complete failure.
We can render no better service to
humanity than to put forth all our
influence to prevent the world from
slipping back into the grasp Of that
ravaging system. Truth and faitn
and justice have a power Of their
own in which we are justified IN
placing a very large reliance"
TN nations, individuals have their
counterpart. AS we can expect
some help from domestic laws, so
we can expect some help from in
ternational covenants. While each
represents the best that humanity
can do at this ii neither in them
selves are sufficient. AS it is neces-
sary to change the heart of the in
dividual, so it is necessary to
change the heart of nations. This
has often been referred to as moral
disarmament. The mistake that is
being made in it's application lies in
the fact that 1t does not come first"
Referring to the Christmas sea-
son, the President said that l"all
humanity has laid aside the burdens
Of the day that they might rejoice
in glad tidings of Peace on earth
good will toward men," and added
that if the world could achieve
complete moral disarmament it
would have little need of arma-
ments and no need at all for inter-
national treaties limiting their use
and size.'
The President said the world
needs complete change of heart"
as at present altogether too much
of international relationship is based
on fear"
Nations rejoice in the fact that
they have courage to fight each
other" he continued. when will
the time come that they have cour-
age to trust each other"
Mr.. Coolidge said he believed
wider understanding of the spirit Of
world but that this does not run
counter to the theory of independ-
ence" In the days of Washington.
the President asserted, the colonies
determined to resist but Americans
did not then and do not now fall
to recognize that they are part OF
the civilized world, and that they
owe not only to themselves but to
others great obligations"
But they We're determined then
and are determined now to be the
masters Of their own destiny ard
the judges Of their own conduct,
he added. "They knew. and we
ought to know, that unless we can
be Americans we can not be any
thing. Unless we look after our
selves we can not look after any
body else. The obligations of civil
ization are reciprocal. The same
consideration that we owe to others
they owe to us"
Discussing Americas internal de-
yelopment the President said our
people ought to desire to be pros
porous. but it ought not to be their
main DESIRE" The proper develop
ment of national character In lts
citizens should be the main care Oh
Americans, he asserted.
Only the influences Of religion
and eQuCatlOn III tHe opihioH "
President Coolidge could give Amer
lean citizens a full sense of their
civic duties and give American
political institutions their full force
by allowing intelligent and direct
intervention of the people.
"By religion I do not mean" ne
continued, "either fanaticism or
bigotry: by education I do not mean
the cant of the schools; but broad
and tolerant faith, loving thy neigh.
Dor as myself, and training ana
experience that enables the human