Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-06-10
AMERICAN MISSION
Is ONE OF PEACE.
DECLARES WILSON

Annapolis, Md, June president
Wilson today told 1854 graduates OF the
naval academy. many Of whom leave
shortly for Mexican waters, that the
mission of he United States is one of
service to humanity. not aggrandize-
ment or conquest. He spoke at the an
nual academy graduation exercises and
later delivered the diplomas to the
young midshipmen. He declared the
duty of the United States is to serve
the world.
Speaking OF the Vera Cruz situation,
the president reverently declared: : "I
pray God, the boys there will not have
to light n more" He added that the
real good they will do will be the inn
preston on the Mexicans. They are
on. The people of Vera Cruz. who
dispised and hated Americans, Twill
think differently of them when our
boys leave"
The president spoke in a huge armory
packed with more than 5000 officers,
midshipmen andN relatives and >friends
OF the graduates: He was> en-
Enthusiastically cheered during his adj
dress.
Thoughts for Warriors.
President Wilson said in part:
1t ought to be n of your thoughts
all the time that you are sample Amer
leans. not merely sample navy men. not
N~ANi iiip SOIOlCIo, OuI SdIIIDl0
Americans. and that you have the point
or view of America with regard to her
navy and her army that she is using
them as the instrument of civilization,
not as the instrument of aggression.
The idea of America is to serve hui
manlty. and every time you let the
stars and stripes free to the wind you
ought to realize that that is in itself
a message. that YOU are on an GRAND
which other navies sometimes have for
gotten. not an GRAND of conquest. but
an errand of service.
What do you think is the lasting
impression that those boys down at
Vera Cruz are going to leave? They
nave had to use some force. I pray
GOD 1T Will not be necessary for them
TO use n more. but 10 you think the
way they fought is going to be the most
fought ever since the world began? Is
there anything new in using force? The
new things in the world are the things
that are divorced from force. The
things that show the moral compul-
slons OF the human conscience. those
building up civilization, not by force,
and the lasting impression that those
boys are to leave will be that they ex-~
ercised self control.
Praise for Fletcher.
You must bea in mind that you
are the champions of what is right and
FAIR all around, no matter where you
are and that it is for what is right and
fair for public welfare that you are
ready to fight and not merely on the
drop of a hat or upon some slight
punctillo."
The president praised Admiral,
Fletcher, saying he had been on duty
longer at Vera Cruz than he other
commanders, and that he had the quail
tiles OF a statesman.
After the ceremony the president
watched the graduates go to the quar-.
tiers and the former "plebes" run to
take possession of lovers lane" He
ate luncheon with Captain Fullam AND
planned to leave for Washington at
3 O'clock.
President Wilson received a long
wireless dispatch on board the May
flower ut 2 o'clock this morning from
the American delegates at Niagara
Falls. Members of the presidential
party refused to discuss the message,
except to say that it did not materially
change the situation.