Evening star., 1914-08-18
WILSON APPEALS
TO ALL TO HELP
KEEPU.S. NEUTRAL
Asks Americans to Refrain
From Acts or Speech Like
Iy to Embroil Nation.
REMARKABLE DOCUMENT
URGES ALL TO BE CALM
Looks With Disfavor Upon Attempt
to Force This Government Into
Far East Quarrel.
DEPL0RE HEXAMER MESSAGE
German-American Callers at White
House Regret Move to Stir Up
Japanese-American
Trouble.
REMARKABLE DOCUMENT
URGES ALL TO BE CALM
DEPLoRE HExAMER MESSAGE

In probably the most remark
able document he has issued from
the White House, an appeal to
his "fellow-countrymen," Presi-
dent Wilson today urged al
Americans to remain calm over
the events taking place in Europe
and to refrain from saying and
doing things that might create
bitterness or embroil this country.
Prior to the issuance of the
statement, officials close to the
President made it clear that Mr..
Wilson was fully determined to
take no part in the dispute be-
tween Japan and Germany over
the situation in the far east.
While the German-Japan ques-
tion was not referred to in
the statement, it became known
that the President regarded with
disfavor efforts he believed were
being made to embroil the United
States in the controversy in the
far east or in Europe.
Presidents Appeal
The statement Of the President follows
Ny fellow-countrymeR:
suppose that every thoughtful man
in America has asked himself during
these last troubled weeks what in
fuence the European war may, exert
upon the United States, and I take
the liberty of addressing few words
to YOU in order to point out that 1t is
entirely within our own choice what it's
effects upon us will be and to urge
very earnestly upon you the sort Of
speech and conduct which will best
safeguard the nation against distress
and disaster.
The effect of the war upon the United
States will depend upon what Amert-
can citizens say and do. Every man
who really loves America will act and
speak in the true spirit Of neutrality.
which is the spirit of impartiality and
fairness and friendliness to all con-
cerned. The spirit of the nation in
this critical matter will be determined
largely by what individuals and society
and those gathered in public meetings
do and say, upon what newspapers and
magazines contain, upon what ministers
utter in their pulpits, and men proclaim
as their opinions on the street.
Drawn From Many Nations.
The people of the United States are
drawn from many nations. and chiefly
from the nations now at war. 1t 10
natural and inevitable that there
should be the utmost variety OF
sympathy and desire among them
with regard to the issues and CIR
cumstances of the. conflict. Some
will wish one nation, others another,
10 succeed in the momeptous strug-
gle 1t will be easy to excite passion
and difficult to allay II. Those re-
sponsible for exciting it will assume
heavy responsibility, responsibility
for no less a thing than that the peo-
pie of the United States, whose love
of their country and whose loyalty to
it's government should unite them
as Americans ALL bound in honor and
affection to think first of her and her
interests. may be divided in camps
of hostile opinion, hot against each
other. involved in the war itself In
impulse and opinion IL not in action.
he fatal to our peace Of mind and
might seriously stand in the way OF
the proper performance of our duty
as the one great nation at peace. tho
play a part of impartial mediation
and speak the counsels of peace and
accommodation, not as partisan,
but as friend.
Warns Against Taking Sides.
venture, therefore, my fellow
countrymen, to speak a solemn
that deepest. most subtle. most es-
sential breach of neutrality which
may spring out of partisanship, out
of passionately taking sides. The
United States must be neutral in
fact as well as in name during
these days that are to try mems
souls. We must be impartial in
thought as well as in action, must
put a curb upon our sentiments as
well as upon every transaction that
might be construed as a preference
of one party to the struggle before
another.
My thought is of America. I am
speaking. l feel sure, the earnest
wish and purpose of every thought
full American that this great coun-
try of ours, which is, of course,
the first in our thoughts and in our
hearts, should show herself in this
time of peculiar trial a nation fit
beyond others to exhibit the fine
poise of undisturbed Judgment, the
dignity of self-control. the efficiency
of dispassionate action; a nation
that neither sits in judgment upon
others nor is disturbed in her own
counsels and which keeps herself
fit and free to do what is honest
and disinterested and truly sery-
iceable for the peace of the world.
Shall we not resolve to put upon
ourselves the restraints which will
bring to our people the happiness
No Ia n q N
for peace we covet for them?
Stirring Up Trouble With Japan.
Although President Wilson's appes
makes no reference to events of the la.
few days. evidences had begun to mutt