The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-09-25
WHAT HAST THOU TO Do
WITH PEACE?"-THE BIBLE
4 Loving Call to the Colors, Ad-
dressed to His Companions in Arms
in the Army of Peace.
President Wilson's Message, August
Is, 1911.
Ny fellow countrymcn;

Ny fellow countrymcn:
suppose that every thoughtfu.
man in America has asked himself
during the last troubled weeks, VIVA,
influence the European war may eX-
ert 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 own choice what
its effect upon US will be, and to urge
very earnestly upon you the sort Of
speech and conduct which will best
safe guard the nation against dis,
trcss and disaster.
The effect Of the war upon the
United States will depend upon wha,
American citizens say and do. Ever
man who really loves America viii
act and speak in the true spirit Of
neutrality and fairness and friendi,
ness to all concerned.
The spirit Of the nation in this crit
icaI matter will be determined largely
by what individuals and society ant
those gathered in public meetings d,
and upon what newspapers and mag
azines contain; upon what our minis
tiers in their pulpits, and men pro.
claim as their opinions on the street
The people Of the United States are
drawn from many nations and chief
ly from the nations now at war. II
is natural and inevitable that Their
should be the utmost variety of sym
pathy with regard to the issues and
circumstances of the conflict. Some
will wish one nation, others another
to succeed in the momcntous struggle
II will be easy to excite passion
and difficult to allay it. Those re,
sponsible for exciting it will assume
a heavy responsibility; responsible.
ity for no less "A thing than that the
people Of the United States, whose
love of their country, and whose 10y,
atty to their government should unite
them as Americans, all bound in hon.
or and affection to think first of her
and her interests, may be divided II
camps of hostile opinions, hot against
each other, involved in the war itself
in impulse, and opinion, if not in &C
ton.
Such diversions amongst us would
be fatal to our peace Of mind and
might seriously stand in the way Of
the proper performance of cur duty
as the one great nation at peace, the
one people holding itself ready &c
play part of impartial mediation and
speak the counsels of peace and &C.
commodations, not as a partisan, but
as friend.
/ venture, therefore, my fellew
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 passionately tax.
ing sides.
The United States must be neutral
in fact as we'll 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 curb upon our
sentiments as well as upon every
transaction that might be construed
as a preference of no party to the
struggle before another, My thought
is Of America. | am speaking, ! 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
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 upon Others
nor is disturbed in her own couscls
and which keeps herself fit and free
to do what is honest and dsinterested
and truly serviceable for the peace
of the world
Shall we not resolve to put upor
ourselves the restraint which vii
bring to our people the happiness ant
the great lasting influence for peace
we covet for them!
WOODROW WILSON.