The Elbert County tribune., 1914-08-21
EFFECT OF WAR UPON UNITED
STATES WILL BE JUST
WHAT WE MAKE 1T.
President Wilson Asks All Good citi-
zens to Keep Personal Neutrality,
and Warns that Deepest, Most
Subtle Essential Breach May
Spring from PassionateIy Taking
Sides.
;ewspaper Union New. s.rvIe..

with the European war, warning the
citizens of the United States against
that deepest. most subtle, most es-
sential breach of neutrality which may
spring out of partisanship, out of pas
sionately taking sides" The Presi-
dents statement follows:
MY fellow countrymen:
Il suppose that every thoughtful
man in America has asked himself
during the last troubled weeks what
Influence the European war may exert
In the United States. and / take the
liberty OF addressing a few words TO
you in order to point out that it is
entirely within our own choice what
its effects on us will ne 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 on the United
States Will depend on what American
citizens say and do. Every man who
really loves America will act and
speak n the true spirit of neutrality.
which is in the spirit OF impartiality
and fairness and friendliness to all
concerned.
THE spirit of the nation in this crit
ical matter will be determined largely
by what individuals and society and
those gathered in public meetings do
and say, on what newspapers and
magazines contain. on what our min
listers utter in their pulpits and men
proclaim as their opinions on the
streets.
The people OF the United States are
drawn from many nations and chiefly
from the nations now at war. 1t is
natural and inevitable that there
should be the utmost variety OF SYM
pathy and desire among them with re-
gard to the issues and circumstances
OF the conflict. Some will 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 it will assume heavy
responsibility; responsibility for no
less a 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,
maybe 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 diversions amongst us 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 part of impartial mediation and
| speak the counsels Of peace and ac.
| commodation, not as a partisan, but as
friend.
venture, therefore, my fellow
countrymen, to speak solemn word
of warning to you against that deep
est, most subtle. most essential
breach OF neutrality which may
spring out of partisanship, out of pas.
sionately taking sides.
The United States must be neu-
| tral 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 sentiment as well
as on every transaction that might be
construed as preference of one
party to the struggle before another.
| My thought is of America. I am
speaking feel sure, the earnest wish
and purpose of every thoughtful
American that this country of ours,
which is, of course, the first in our
thoughts and in our hearts. should
show itself in this time of peculiar
trial a nation fit beyond others to
exhibit the fine poise of undisturbed
Judgment. the dignity OF self-control,
| the efficiency of dispassionate action:
nation that neither sits in judgment
on others nor is disturbed in her own
| rounsels and which keeps herself fit
| and free to do what is honest and
disinterested and truly serviceable for
the peace of the world.
Shall we not resolve to put on our
selves the restraint which will bring
to our people the happiness and the
great lasting influence for peace We
,ovet for them?
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
Wilson Protests on Hyphensted
| Citizen.
| Prior to the issuance OF the state
| ment. officials close to the President
/ made it clear that Mr.. Wilson was
| fully determined to take no part in the
l.iispute between Japan and Germany
| over the situation in the far east.
While the German-Japan question was
not referred to in the statement, 1t be-
/ came known that the President re-
L NTH dicfn ,ror- offNrfS ha he