The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-18
President Wilson Issues :
Statement to tho People.
Urges Them to Avoid Any
Breach Of Neutrality.
I'M WORD As We'll As N DEED
There Should Be an Absence g
All Partially.
Effects Of War on This Counr
try Rests with De.
time TO SHOW OUR cQm& :
Nation Should Exhibit E1n0
Poise of judgment.
Give Service Now for Peace 04
Entire World.
Effects Of War on This Couna
try Rests with Us.
TINE TO SHOW our COL0H :
Nation Should Exhibit Eln0
Poise Of Judgment
Give Service Now for Peace q
Entire World.

Washington. Aug. 18.-AddreaB1ng
the American people President W1lDn0
today issued q statement in connect1oa
with the European war warning c1t5-
zens Of the United States against 'thaf
deepest. most subtle. most essential
breach of neutrality which may spttng
out Of partisanShip, out of pas1ionato-
The statement follows:
My fellow c0untrymen: suDp00o
that every thoughtful man in Amef1o8
has asked himself during the lat
European war may exert upon the
United States, and take the liberty
Of addressing q few words to you IN
order to point out that 1t 10 entirely
within our own choice what its effec&o
upon US will be and to urge very ear
and conduct which will best safeguard
the nation against distress and disAs-
ter.
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 neutr11-
| ity which II the spirit of impartiality
and fairness and friendliness to an
concerned. The spirit Of the nation In
| this critical matter will be determined
largely by what individuals and So
cietysand those gathered In pubue
mee0ngs do and say, upon what news
pepDfs and magazines contain. upon
Iwh1t our ministers utter in their pull
i pits and men proclaim as their Opin-
ions on the streets.
p Plur1bn1 Um~.
''rhe people OF the United States
are drawn from many nations and
chiefly from the nations now at var.
It is natural and inevitable that there
should be the utmost variety Of SYM
Il w1A
regard to the issues and circum-
stances Of the conflict. Some viii
| wish one nation. others another. to
/ succeed in the mOmentous struggle.
1t will be easy to excite passion and
difficult to allay 1t. Those responsible
for exciting 1t will assume a heavy re-
] sponsibility: responsibility for no less
q thing than that the people Of the
United States. whose love Of their
country and whose loyalty to its gov
ernment should unite them as Ameri-
cans all bound in honor and affection
to think first of her and her interests.
may be divided in camps of hostile
opinions hot against each other, in
volved in the war itself in impulse and
opinion. II not in action.
"Such divisions among US would be
fatal to our peace of mind and might
seriously stand in the way Of the
proper performance of our duty az the
one great nation at peace. the one
people holding itself ready to play q
part of important mediation and
speak the counsels of peace and ac-
commodation, not as q partisan, but
as q friend.
A Word of Warning.
II venture. therefore, my fellow
citizens, to speak q solemn word OF
warning to you against that deepest.
most subtle, most essential breach OF
neutrality which may spring out OF
partisanship, out Of passiOnateIy
taking sides.
1.-The United States must be neutral
in fact as well as in name during theao
days that are to try mems souls. We
must be impartial in thought as well
as in action, must put curb upon 0uI
| (Contiaued on maze q u =