Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-08-26
NE| ] | t ASKED [ !. !.
ARE WARNED BY
\, PRESIDENT WILSON AGAINST
! 81 \ a, taking SIDES"
MAY Ma PROVE :'I J. 2 ri ]. 10 U. S.

MAY PROVE PERIL TO U. S.
Final Effect Of European War on This
Country Rests S..Nlthln Ourselves"
Says Nations Exscutive---urges
self-controI on Part Of All Citizens.
Washington. Aug. 2Q,-President
Wilson addressed communication to
the American people on Tuesday, ask
Ing them to observe strict neutrality
In speech and conduct in the present
European conflict and to act in a spir-
It OF impartiality and fairness and
friendliness to all concerned. His
statement says: Z, .3S If
Ny fellow countrymen: VII
Z II suppose that every thoughtful
man in America has asked himself
during these last troubled weeks what
influence the European war may exert
upon the United States, and 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
American 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 i'm
partially and fairness and friendli-
ness to all concerned. The spirit Of
the nation in this critical matter will
be determined largely by what &tndl-
yiduais and society and those gathered
In public meetings do and say, upon
what newspapers and magazines con-
tain, upon what ministers utter In
their pulpits and men proclaim their
opinions on the street. PHI
The people of the United States are
drawn from many nations and chiefly
from the nations now at war. It Is
natural and inevitable that there
should be utmost variety OF sympathy
and desire among them with regard to
the issues and circumstances OF the
conflict Some will wish one nation,
others another to succeed in this mo-
}mentous struggle. VI 5Ss t5r
1T will be easy to excite passion
and difficult to allay it, Those re-
sponsible for exciting twill assume q
heavy responsibility, responsibility for
no less thing than that the people OF
the United States, whose love OF the
country and whose loyalty to its gov
eminent should unite them as Ameri-
cans Ill, bound In honor and affection
to think first Of her and her interests,
may be divided in camps Of hostile
opinion. not against each other, In
7volved in the war itself in impulse and
opinion ii not In action. Such divisions
among JUS would be 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, the one people, holding itself
ready to play a part OF impartial me-
diation and speak the counsels u Of
partisan. but as friend. VI,
4, II venture therefore, my fellow,
countrymen, to speak solemn word
of warning to you against the deep
est, most subtle. most essential breach
OF neutrality which may spring out OF
partisanship out Of passtonately taking
sides. The United States must be
neutral in fact as well as in name dur
ing these days that are to try mems
souls. We must be impartial in
thought as well as in action; must put
a. curb on our sentiments as well as
upon transaction that might be con-
strued as a preference of one party to
the struggle before another.
43l my thought is Of America, am
speaking, / feel sure. the earnest wish
and purpose of every thoughtful Amer
ican@ that this great country OF ours,
which is, Of course, the first in our
thoughts \. and ! in our hearts. should
show herself IN this time of peculiar
trial nation At beyond others to ex.
hibit the fine poise Of undtsturbed
the dignity of self-control.
the efnciency of dispassionate action.
a nation that neither sits in Judgment
upon others nor IS disturbed in her
own councils and which keeps herself
At and free to do what is honest and
disinterested and truly serviceable for
the peace of the world. . s5 y S 4;
Shall we not resolve to- put upon
ourselves the restraints which will
bring to our people the happiness and
the great and lasting influence for
peace we covet for them.