Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1916 — THE RESIDENT'S SPEECHES. [ARTICLE]

THE RESIDENT'S SPEECHES.

We think there can be no doubt that tlie speeches that the President lias thus far delivered have greatlv influenced the thought of the people. Many who were doubtful as to the need for more adequate defense, and even some of those who felt that there was no need, must have been greatly impressed. For the President has appealed solely to reason, and thus has given the people credit for intelligence—which is more than can be said of some otherb who have spoken and written on the subject. Mr. Wilson has proceeded on the theory that the business was the people's own, and that they would manage it wisely if only they understood the situation. And so lie to make them understand it. There has been no appeal to tear—much less to passion—nor have the perils been in the slightest degree exaggerated. The speeches have been as moderate as the policyin support of which they were delivered.

Nor is there the slightest trace of jingoism in anything that has been said. Mr. Wilson has spoken as a iban of peace, and also as one who has and rightly—gone to extreme length’s to keep this country out of war. When such a man urgently

advises that we make ready for possible war bis words naturally have great weight. It to to be remembered further that Mr. Wilson has the very great advantage of knowing v. hat he is talking about. This point was made by Mr. Mann in a speech in the house of representatives last week. When, therefore, Mr. Wilson tells us that we have been for months walking amid great dangers, that he has found it most diflieult to keep the peace, that he can not tell us what our foreign relations will be tomorrow, and that we are living in the midst of conditions that we can not control —When such Warnings come from such a man as Woodrow Wilson, who is accustomed to measure his words—we can not but feel that the situation is indeed grave. And when he plainly- says that the time may come when it will not longer be possible to maintain peace and also guard the nation’s honor, there can be no mistaking his meaning/

The President's arguments also derive strength from the fact that he is not seeking to force any pet program on the country. All that he asks is that in some way we provide for a reserve of a half million men trained in the rudiments of war. Thus far he has said comparatively little about the navy—that will come later. - Mr. Wilson has not made the mistake or belittling our present defenses, as have some others. On the contrary, he has shown that we are far from defenseless. Our navy Js not, as some sensational magazine writers have said, mere junk. It is not as large as it ought to be, and is lacking in ships of the newer type, but it is an efficient navy. And so of our coats defenses —-these, too, are good, but there are not enough of them. Tb*re is in these speeches no note of panic, passion, jingois.n, militarism or ha*e. What we have is a sober and re--irained dismission of a great na[tidnal problem- an appeal to a free, I ir.t* liig.-nt and enlightened people jib a mat er involving their dearest j interests. In nothing that has been paid is there the slightest departure J from American traditions and principles. On tie contrary, the people are asked to provide for the defense j<; those traditions and principles. - { Indianapolis News.