Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1914-08-22
LET US ALL OBEY PRESIDENT
WILSON.

Addressing the American people.
President Wilson issued a statement
in connection with the European war.
warning citizens of the United States
against that deepest, most subtle,
most essential breach of neutrality
which may spring out Of partizanship.
out of passionately taking Sides"
The presidents statement follows:
my fellow countrymen.
II suppose that every thoughtful
man in America has asked himself
during the last troubled weeks what
influence the European war may exert
upon the United States, and take the
liberty of addressing a few words to
you in order to point out that 1t Is
entirely within our choice what its
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
impartiality and fairness and friendli.
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 say
upon what newspapers and magazines
contain, upon what our ministers utter
in their pulpits, and men proclaim az
their opinions on the streets.
THE people of the United States
are drawn from many nations, and
chiefly from the nations now at war
II 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 ma
ton, others another to succeed in the
momentous struggle. II will be easy
to excite passion and difficult to allay
it. Those responsible for exciting I,
will assume a heavy responsibility
responsibility for no less thing thar
that the people of the United States
whose love of their country, an(
whose loyalty TO its government
should unite them as Americans, al
first OF her and her interests, ma!
be divided in camps of hostile opin
ions, hot against each other, involved
In the war itself in impulse and opin
ion, II not in action.
Such diversions among us would
be fatal TO our peace Of mind ant
might seriously stand in the way o
the proper performance OF our dut!
as the one great nation at peace, thu
one people holding itself ready TO pla!
part OF impartial mediation ant
speak the counsels of peace and ac
commodation, not as a partisan, bu
as friend,
Il venture, therefore, my fellow
countrymen, 10 speak solemn wore
of warning 70 you that agains
that deepest, most subtle, most es
sentlal breach OF neutrality whicI
may spring out OF partisanship, out o
passionately taking sides. The Unite,
States must be neutral in fact as wei
as in name during these days tina
are 10 try mems souls. We must b
impartial in thought as we'll as Il
action, must put curb upon our ser
timents as we'll as upon every transat
ton that might be construed as
preference OF one party 10 the sirius
gle before another.
MY thought Is of America. | al
speaking, | feel sure, the earnest wis
and purpose OF every thoughtful Amer
lean that this great country of ours
which is, OF course, the first in on
thoughts and in our hearts, shout
show herself in this time OF peculia
trial a nation that Is fit beyon
others 10 exhibit the fine poise OF VI
disturbed judgment the dignity G
self-control, the efficiency Of dispai
sionate action; nation that neithe
sits in judgment upon others nor
disturbed In her own counsels an
which keeps herself fl and free 10 d
what is honest and disinterested an