64 State Papers and Addresses

of relative peace and security are bound up closely with the vigorous prepara-
tions that are being made, and must continue to be made, in the States of
our Country, until the shores of this great land give evidence to all the world
that which the United States now wants, it is prepared to defend from unjust
aggression.

Looking to the lands of Europe, we note ever-increasing military activities?
that in some cases are initiated only by fears of outside aggression. Wo
observe, in the case of the several Dictator-ruled nations, widespread ac-
tivities evidently find their root in the desires of these ruthless rulers to
instigate wars for no other reason than to secure new advantages and new
territory. And we find, too, that the principles advocated by these Dictators,
principles absolutely at variance with the tenets of our own Democratic
government, are being injected poisonously into many of the residents of our
own State and Country with results that cannot be denounced too vigorously.

Ours is a peace-loving nation; the citizens of America do not desire war.
They crave to live in peace and concord with their fellow men and women
throughout the world and are not jealously seeking any possessions of her
sister nations. International peace and good will are intensely desired by our
people. America had enough of war twenty years ago and the loss, both in
men and property, is still being suffered.

The lesson I would bring home to those of you within hearing of my
voice today is that the way to peace is to be continuously prepared—but to
be resolved in our hearts that these preparations of ours will be only for
purposes of safe-guarding our own interests, and not to serve the interests
of nations wholly unrelated to America.

It can well be said, with a great deal of truth, that the principles actua-
ting the totalitarian countries of Europe are at variance with our own Demo-
cratic tenets, and that these totalitarian countries would be only too willing,
if the opportunity offered, to see our form of government overthrown, and
their own system of government substituted. Even granting all this, however,
we must wait until we are sure that such an overthrow really threatens, be-
fore we allow the energies and the young manhood of this country to become
embroiled in the disputes of the "all-for-the-State" governments.

Our policy must be one of aloofness from any European family quarrel,
but at the same time to be certain we are strong enough to make it unsafe
for any nation, even though it dominates the European world, to try to inter-
fere with our people in their struggle for life and happiness. And one of the
sanest ways to do this, I am convinced, is by the sensible encouragement and
help by our Government to the National Guard of the various States, so that
these Guard units, truly our "second line of defense" may be prepared at
any time to step in and take up the burden of defense of our rights.

Surely no mention of the great World War could ever be just that failed to
give credit to the splendid assistance given at that time by the National Guard
organizations of several States. And preparations for any outbreak of the
future MUST be built around the National Guard units as present constituted.
We are not a warlike nation. Our people would never stand for the huge
armies that other nations feel called upon to maintain. But at the same time,
we must have available a framework upon which the huge army that might
sometime be necessary, could be built up quickly and efficiently.