The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-19
PRESIDENT URGES TRUE
SPIRIT OF NEUTRALITY
Issues Statement To the American
People in Connection With Eu-
ropcnn War.
SOLEMN WORD or WARNING
Divisions Would Seriously Stand I'm
Way OF Duty ms One Great Ma
tion at Peace, Ready to Play Part
OF Impartial Mediator.

WASHINGTON, August 1s-Addrcss-
ing tho American people, President
Wilson to-day lasucd n statement in
connection with the European war.
warning citizens OF the United states
against that deepest, most subtle.
most essential breach OF neutral ality
winch may spring out OF partlsanship.
out of passionately taking sides"
The President pleaded that the
United States be neutral In facts. ms
well as In name during these days
That arc To try mems souls"
we must be impartial I'm thought. as
well as In action" he said. but put n
curb upon our sentiments. as we'll as
upon every transaction that might he
construed az preference OF ono party
to the struggle before another"
Officials close to the President made
II clear that he was fully determined
to take no part in the dispute between
Japan and Germany over the situation
In the Far East. While that contro-
versy was rot specifically referred to
IN the Presidents statement. 1t became
known that Mr. Wilson is rcseutful Of
efforts he believed are being made to
cmbroil the United States In IT,
PRESIDENT PLEADS
FOR REAL NEUTRALITY
MY fellow -countrymen:
suppose that every thoughtful man
In America has asked himself during
these last troubled weeks what infu-
ence the European war may exert
upon the United States. and take tho
liberty OF addressing Il few words to
yon In order to point out that IL is
entirely within our own choice what it's
effects upon us VIII be. and to urge
very earnestly upon you tho sort OF
speech and conduct which Will best
"a rA l, ,uft nf,,ot a JI,t,
and disaster
The effect OF tho 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 tho spirit OF I'm
partiality and fairness and fricndli-
ness to all concerned. The spirit OF
the nation In this critical matter will
be determined largely by what indi-
viduals and society and those gath
cred In public meetings do and asy,
upon what newspapers and magazines
contain, upon what our ministers utter
In their pulpits, and men proclaim as
their opinions on the streets.
PEOPLE; OF 4. =. DRAWN
FROM MANY NATIONS
The people OF the United States are
drawn from many nations. and chiefly
from the nations now mt war 1t Is
natural and inevitable that there
should be the utmost variety OF sym
pathy and desire among them witn
regard to the issues and circum-
stances OF the conflict Some VIII
wish ono nation. others another. to
succeed In tho momeutous struggle.
IL VIII be easy to excite passion and
dimcult to allay 1t. Those responsible
for exciting 1t Will assume heavy
responsibilty-a responsibility for no
less thing than that the people OF
the United States, whose lovo OF their
country and whose loyalty to its gov
ernment should unite them as Ameri-
cans all, hound In honor and affection
TO think first of her and her interests.
may be divided In camps OF hostile
opinions, hot against eact other, In
Continued ON Sixth Pagel