Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-08-19
PRESIDENT ASKS
AMERICANS TO
KEEP NEUTRAL
Urgent Necessity for People Of
This Country 10 Refrain
From Taking Sides In Eu-
ropean Conflict,

tas soHNssa JOURNAL nrtclAL lsAuso wlrsi
Washington. Aug. lS.-A idfersing
the American people, President VIII.
son today issued statement In con.
ncction with the European war warn.
Ing against that deepest. most subtle
most essential breach OF neutrality
which may SPRING out Of partisan.
ship. out Of passlonately tnkinp
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 ex-
ert In the United states and take
the liberty OF addressing a few words
to you in order 60 point out that Il Is
entirely within our own choice what
its effects on us viii be and to urge
very earnestly upon YOU the sort of
speech aud conduct which VIII best
safeguard the nation against distress
and disaster.
THE effect OF the war on the Unit.
ed States will depend on what Amer.
lean citizens say and do. Every man
who really loves America VIII act aud
speak in the true spirit % neutrality
which il the spirit Of impartallty and
fairness and frhendlincss 10 MI con-
lcerned. The spirit OF the nation In
this critical matter will be determined
largely by what individuals and So
oil s4..f IA. Ia H.,
meetings do and say on what news
papers and magazines contain. on
what our ministers utter In their pull
pits and men proclaim as their opin-
ions on the streets
The people Of the United states
are drawn from many nations and
chiefly from the nations now az war.
II is natural and Inevitable that
there should be the utmost variety OF
sympathy among them with reenrd
TO the issues and circumstances Of the
conflict. Some will wish one nation,
others another, to succeed In the
struggle
ut will be easy to excite passion
and difficult to allay It. Those respon-
sible for exciting 1t win assume a
heavy responsibility. responsibility
for no less thing than that the
neople of the United States whose
love of their country and whose 10y
atty to its government should unite
them as Americans, all hound In hon
or and affection TO think first OF her
and her interests, may he divided In
camps of hostile opinions not against
each other. involved In the war Itself
In impulse and opinions, II not IN
action.
such diversions amongst us would
be fatal To our peace OF mind and
might seriously stand In the way Of
proper performance OF our duty as
the one great nation at peace, the one
people holding itself ready 70 play 4
part of impartial mediation and speak
the counsels of peace and accommo-
dation, not as partisan, hut as a
friend.
Il venture. therefore nay 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 pnssiunatel,
taking sides The United States must
be neutral in fact as wcll as in hume
during 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 us we'll
as on every transaction that might
be construed MS Il preference of one
party to the struggle before another
Ny thought Is of America. | sam
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 herself In this time Of peculiar
trial Il nation fit beyond others TO ex-
hibit the fine polse Of undisturhed
The dignity Of self-control,
the efficiency of dispassionate action:
a nation that neither sits in judg-
ment on others nor Is disturbed in
her own counsels and which keeps
herself fit and free TO do what Is hon