The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-19
President Appeals to Americans
Ito Confine Their Speech to the
Spirit of Strict Neutrality
Il at All Times
EFFECT OF WAR HERE
DEPENDS ON PEOPLE
those Who Excite Passion May
Divide Country Into Hostile
Camps

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1S.-"Ad
PRESSING my countrymen." Presiden
Wilson today issued long statement
alling upon citizens OF the United
States to confine their speech to the
pirit Of strict neutrality--which hs
efied as the spirit OF impartiality ant
airness-in the European war situa
ion.
The presidents statement follows:
my fellow countrymen:
Il suppose that every thoughtful
han In America has asked himself
luring these last troubled weeks what
influence the European war may exert
bpon the United States, and I take
he liberty OF addressing a few words
10 you In order to point out that 1t Ii
Entirely within our choice what Its
(ffects upon us will be, and to urge
I3ry earnestly upon you the sort Of
speech and conduct which will best
(afeguard the nation against depres
lion 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
kct and speak In the true spirit OF neu
rality, which Is the spirit OF impair
iality and fairness and friendliness
10 all concerned The spirit of the
hation In this critical matter will be
Determined largely by what individ'
halls and society and those gathered
n public meetings do and say, upon
What newspapers and magazines con.
ain, upon what ministers utter In
IL Iotv a
their opinions on the street.
"The people of the United States
hre drawn from many nations and
chiefly from the nations now at war,
&c Ii natural and inevitable that there
should be the utmost variety OF sym.
pathy and desire among them with
regard to the issues and circumstances
|bf the conflict. Some will wish one
hation, others another. to succeed In
fhe momentous struggle. II will be
Easy to excite passion and difficult to
hllay II. Those responsible for excit-
ing It, will assume a heavy RESPONSE
bility, responsibility for no less a
thing than that the people OF the
United States. whose love for their
eountry and those whose loyalty to
Its government should unite them as
americans. All. bound In honor and
Infection TO think first Of her and her
Interests, may be divided In camps OF
hostile opinion, hot against each 9th
Ter. involved in the war itself, In I'M
pulse and opinion II not In action.
Such divisions amongst us would be
fatal to our peace OF mind and might
eeriously 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 q
part Of impartial mediation and speak
the counsels Of peace and accommo-
|dation, not as . partisan, but as a
friend.
|. 81 venture, therefore. my fellow
to speak q solemn word
|cf warning to you against that deep
lest, most subtle, most essential breach
|of neutrality which may spring out OF
and Of passionately TAX
ing sides.
"The United States must be neu-
trial In that 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 cuTD upOu OuI scuIihhcuSo 90
well as upon every transaction that
might be construed as preference OF
one party to the struggle before an
other.
"My thought Is Of America. I am
speaking, l feel sure, the earnest wish
and purpose Of every thoughtful
American 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 a nation At beyond 9TH
ers to exhibit the nne poise Of undis-
turbed Judgment, the dignity Of self
control, the efficiency of dispassionate
action; nation that neither sits In
Judgment upon others nor IL disturbed
In her own counsels and which keeps
herself At and free to do what Is hon
est and disinterested and truly SER
,viceabie for the peace of the world.
"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
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