The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-08-21
President To People.

the American people to preserve
neutrality Of conduct and opinion
in the present war is one Of the
finest state papers he has yet pu'
forth. Coming straight from the
heart, actuated by lofty patriot-
ism, breathing the very spirit OF
~high-minded fairness and, above
all, dictated by inspired common
sense, it represents the best
thought of the American people.
1t calls attention to some phases
Of the situation which may es-
cape popular notice in the stress
of excitement, and while it lays
upon the people an Injunction
which almost cOntravenes the
normal course of human nature,
yet it lays no burdens upon
them which they ought not to
strive to bear in the spirit in
which the appeal is made.
AS The Journal remarked in a
recent editorial, this is a cOun-
try made up of many millions of
former citizens of the great ma
tiOns now engaged in war, as
well as the more numerous mil
lions of the sO-called native
stock" Even the latter, how
ever, are only at the western
end of lines which reach out
across the water to every nook
and corner of the countries whose
capitals are London, Ber-
lin, Vienna, St. Petersburg,
Paris, Brussels and Rome, with
no small iintermixture Of people
from the smaller nations involved
IN the great war. 1t is incOn-
ceivable that there should not be
a strong disposition, amounting
almost to a temptation at times
irresistible, to "take sides in
the conflict. Under such cir
cumStances it will be well to heed
the appeal emanating from the
president and Sprinkle cool pa
thence upon the heat of distem-
per" by exercising the utmost
possible self-restraint.
This repression is dictated by
self-interest no less than by the
broader considerations of fair
ness. AS the president points
out, the war must end sooner or
later, and when it does end there
will be a resumption of the indus
trial relations now interrupted.
rms resumption may be in some
respects a redistribution, though
trade is not regulated by senti-
ment entirely. Broadly speak
ing, enemies will trade with each
other far more quickly than they
will fraternize. But it will be-.
hoove America to form no nav
breaches and to widen those now
existing no more than necessary.
When peace comes, nations which
have certain commodities TO sell
that other nations want will find
d market for them, regardless of
anlmosities now so bitter. But
Tor all that, self-interest demands
4 policy Of uniform importantly.
This, however, is only the ma.
terlal and less worthy aspect of
the case On higher grounds. it
Is the duty Of the people to re.
strain their passions, in time Of
stress, even though it is only hui
man to give them vent. Nor
does the president omit the nal.
pable converse-that citizens Of
foreign birth should not expect
or demand that the American
people shall espouse the cause of
ther particular ~fatherland as
against others. 1t has been re-
peatedly iterated that Americans
and American newspapers are
not taking sides one way or an.
other; they are not roofing" 70.
any of the combatants. They pro
foundly deplore the war, and not
outstanding the presidents an.
peal they may be congratulated
on the moderation they have thu
far displayed. 1t is rather ,