Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-18
PRESIDENT ISSUES APPEAL TO
AMERICANS NOT TO QUARREL
OVER WAR.
HAS JAPAN's ULTlMATUM
IN MIND, APPARENTLY
President in Public Statement Says
United States Interests Can Best Be
Served in Present Crisis by To'sra-
ton and Imp passionate views-says

Washington, Aug. 1S.-Addressing
the American people President Wilson
issued statement today in connection
with the European war. warning the
people of the United States that the
deepest, most subtle. most essential
breach of neutrality may spring out Of
partisanship and out of passionately
taking sides.
The presidents statement follows:
my Fellow Countrymen: suppose
that every thoughtful man in America
has asked himself during the last trou-
bled weeks what influence the Euro
pean war exerts on the United States.
and take the liberty Of addressing a
few words to you In order to point out
that it is entirely with our own choice
what its effects on 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.
Conservation Urged.
ne eIIeCL Oh IN6 war Oh tho CHiACN
States will depend upon what Ameri-
can citizens say and do. Every man
who really loves America will act and
speak in the true spirit of neutrality,
which is thes pirit of impartiality anu
fairness and 'friendliness to all con-
.cerned. The spirit OF the nation in this
critical matter will be determined
largely on what individuals and So
ciety and those gathered in public
meetings do and say: on what news
papers and magazines contain. on what
our ministers 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.
Easy to Excite Passion.
1T will be easy to excite passion
and difficult to allay 1t. Those respon-
sible for exciting it will assume a
heavy responsibility; responsibilities
for no less thing than the people of
the United States. whose love for their
country and whose loyalty to It's gov
ernment should unite them as Ameri-
cans, all bound in honor and affection
to think first of her and her interests.
who may be devided in camps of
hostile opinion, hot against each other,
involved In the war itself in impulse
and opinion. II not in action.
Such diverslans amongst us would
be fatal to our peace Of mGd, and
might seriously stand in the way OF the
proper performance of our duty we owe
as great nation at peace-the one peo-
pie holding itself ready to play a part OF
impartial mediation. and speak the
counsels of peace and accommodation,
not as a partisan. but as friend.
A Word Of Warming.
II venture, therefor my fellow coun- :
trymen. to speak a solemn word OF
warning to YOU against that deepest,
most subtle. most essential breach OF
neutrality, which may spring out of
partisanship. out of passoinately taxi
ing sides. The United States must be
neutral in fact as well as name. during
these days that are to try mems souls.
We must be impartial In thought as
we'll as in action. must put curb on
our sentiments as well as every tram
saction that might be construed as a
preference of one party to the struggle
before another
America First.
"My thought is of America. am
speaking, feel sure. the earnest wish
and. purpuse ri every thoughtful
American, that this great country Of
ours Is, of course. the first In our
thoughts and hearts. should show her
self In this time Of peculiar trial. a ma
ton set beyond others, to exhibit the
fine poise of undisturbed Judgment: the
dignity of self control; the efficiency
Of dispassoinate action; a nation that
neither sits in judgment on others, nor
is disturbed in her own counsels. and
which keeps herself fit and free to do
what is honest and disinterested and
truly serviceable for 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 and lasting influence for peace we
covet for tehm?'
Has Japan in Mind.
Prior to the issuance of the state
ment officials close to the president
made It clear that Mr. Wilson was fully
determined to take no part in the dis.
pute between japan and Germany over
the situation In the far east. While the
Germany Japan question was not re-
ferred in the statement. It became
known that the president regarded with
disfavor efforts h believed were beinS
rsAde to enbroii the United states in