The Colorado statesman., 1914-08-22

""ShihSlon -auuTeSSlnS the Amer
ican people, President Wilson Tues
day issued a statement in connection
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 Presl-
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 I 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 De 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 in 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 it. 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,
may be divided in camps of hostile
opinions, hot against each other, in
volved in the war itself in impulse and
opinion, If not in action.
J 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.
I 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-
l tral in fact as well as in name dur
l ing these days that are to try mems
l 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. l am
: speaking feel sure, the earnest wish
< and purpose of every thoughtful
t American that this country of ours,
q which is, of course, the first in our
v thoughts and in our hearts, should
show itself in this time of peculiar
trial a nation fit beyond others 10
exhibit the fine poise of undisturbed
judgment, the dignity of self-control
h the efficiency of dispassionate action
a nation that neither sits in judgment
/. on others nor is disturbed in her own
q counsels and which keeps herself fit
and free to do what is honest and
tiisinterested and truly serviceable foI
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
eovet for them?
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
s Wilson Protests on Hyphenated
l. Citizen.
s Prior to the issuance of the state
n ment, officials close to the President
made it clear that Mr.. Wilson was
fully determined to take no part in the
dispute between Japan and Germany
over the situation in the far east
y Whila the German-Ianan question was