The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-01-09
U. S. MENACED, ROOSEVELT TELLS
CONGRESS IN HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE
Calls Congress Provide Billions of Dollars For War
Equipment to Halt Aggressors; Plans More and
More Aid to Britain and Other Democracies
President Roosevelt told Con-

SI6SS MOiIudy IIle OIlIGu states
faced an unprecedented foreign
peril" and demanded a "swift
and driving increase in our arm
aments" both for defense and
the use of fighting "democra-
cies" abroad.
"The need of the moment"
Mr.. Roosevelt said in his annual
message on the state of the
union, SIS that our actions and
our policy should be devoted pri-
marily- almost exclusively-to
meeting this foreign peril. For
all our domestic problems are
now a part of the great emer-
gency."
His message was both praised
and criticized by legislators and
others, but the reaction was
mostly favorable.
Text of Message
The text of President Roosevelt's
annual message to Congress follows:
ctNOl yOlt, IllC lllSlllDOlO VI ClAS
nth Congress, at a moment unprece-
denied in the history of the union. l
use the word unprecedented" be-
cause at no previous time has Amer
lean security been as seriously threat
ened from without as it is today.
Since the permanent formation of
our government under the Constitu-
ton, in 1889, most of the periods of
crisis in our history have related to
our domestic affairs. Unfortunately,
one of these-the four-year War Be-
tween the States-ever threatened
our national unity. Today, thank God,
130,000,000 Americans, in 48 states,
have forgotten points to the compass
in our national unity.
Often Disturbed Prior to 1914
It is true that prior to 1914 the
United States often had been dis
turbed by events in other continents.
We had even engaged in two wars
with European nations and in a num-
Der of undeclared wars in the West
Indies, in the Mediterranean and in
I the Pacific for the maintenance of
! American rights and for the princi-
piles Of peaceful commerce. In no case,
however, had a serious threat been
raised against our national safety or
our independence.
What | seek to convey is the his
toric truth that the United States as
a nation has at all times maintained
opposition to any attempt to lock us
in behind an ancien Chinese wall while
the procession of civilization went
past. Today, thinking of our children
and their children, we oppose en-
forced isolation for ourselves or for
any part of the Americas.
Nations Determination Proved @'
That determination of ours was
proved, for example, during the quar-
ter century of wars following the
French revolution.
While the Napoleonic struggles did
threateT interests of the United
StateS<because of the French foothold
in the West Indies and in Louisiana,
and while we engaged in the war of
1912 to vindicate our right to peace
full trade, it is, nevertheless, clear that
neither France nor Great Britain nor
any other nation was aiming at dom
ination of the whole world.
In like fashion from 1915 to 1914
80 years-no single war in Europe or
in Asia constituted real threat
against our future or against the flu
ture of any other American nation.
Except in the Macmillan interlude
in Mexico, no foreign power sought to
establish itself in this hemisphere;
and the strength of the British fleet
in the Atlantic has been friendly
strength. 1t is still friendly strength.
People Visualize Danger
Even when the World War broke
out in 1914, it seemed to contain only
small threat of danger to our own
American future. But, as time went
on, the American people began to Wis
ualize what the downfall of demo-
cratic nations might mean to our own
democracy.
We need not over-emphasize imper-
fections in the peace of Versailles. We
need not harp on failure of the democ-
racies to deal with problems of world
reconstruction. We should remember
that the peace of 1919 was far less
unjust than the kind of Specification
which began even before Munich, and
which is being carried on under the
new order of tyranny that seeks to
spread over every continent today
The American people have unalter-
ably set their faces against that
tyranny.
Every realist knows that the demo
cratic way of life is at this moment
being directly assailed in every part
of the world-assailed either by arms
or by secret spreading of poisonous
propaganda by those who seek to de-
stroy unity and promote discord II
nations still at peace.
Democratic Life BlOtted Out
During sixteen months this assault
has blotted out the whole pattern OF
democratic life in an appalling mum.
Der of independent nations, great anC
small. The assailants are still on the
march, threatening other nations
great and small.
Therefore, as your President, per.
forming my constitutional duty tt
"give to the Congress information Of
the state of the union" | find it neces
sary to report that the future and the
safety of our country and of our de
mocracy are overwhelmingly involved
in events far beyond our borders.
Armed defense Of democratic exist
ence is now being CALAMITY waged il
four continents. If that defense fails
all the population and all the resour
ces Of Europe, Asia, Africa and Aus
tralia will be dominated by the con
querors. The total of those popula
lions and their resources greatly ex
ceeds the sum total of the population
and resources of the whole of tn
western hemisphere - many time
over
Immature TO Brag of U. S. Ability
IL, +i,,,oc. lilo thnrn Il l. In, u, q tl1,.o