Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-08-27

Americans Are Warned AGAINST
Taking Sides"
MAY PROVE PERIL TO U. S.
Final Effect of European War on This
Country Rests Within Ourselves"
Says Nations Executive
Urges Seif-Control.

Washington, Aug. 20.-President
Wilson addressed a communication to
the American people on Tuesday, ask
ing them TO observe strict, neutrality
in speech and conduct in the present
European conflict and to act in a spir-
it of impartiaHty and fairness and
friendliness to all concerned. His
statement says;
My fellow countrymen:
Il suppose that every thoughtful
man in America has asked himself
during these last troubled weeks what
influence the European war may exert
upon the United States, and l 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 upon 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
The effect of the war upon the
United States will depend upon What
American citizens say and do. Every
man who really loves America will
act and speak in the true spirit of
neutrality which is the spirit of i'm
Partially and fairness and friendli-
ness to all concerned. The spirit of
the nation in this critical matter will
/ be determined largely by what indi-
viduals and society and those gathered
in public meetings do and say, upon
what newspapers and magazines con-
tain. upon what ministers utter in
their pulpits and men proclaim their
opinions on the street.
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 utmost variety of sympathy
and desire among them with regard to
the issues and circumstances Of the
conflict Some will wish one nation,
others another to succeed in this mo-
mentous struggle.
1T will be easy to excite passion
and difficult to allay it. Those re
sponsible for exciting 1t will assume
heavy responsibility, responsibility for
no less thing than that the people of
the United States, whose love of the
country and whose loyalty to It's gov
eminent 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
opinion, not against each other, In
volved in the war itself in impulse and
opinion If not in action. Such divisions
among 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 me-
diation and speak the counsels of
peace and accommodation, not as
partisan, but as a friend.
Il venture therefore, my fellow
countrymen, to speak solemn word
of warning to you against the deep
est, most subtle, most essential breach
of neutrality which may spring out of
partisanship out Of passionately taking
sides The United States must be
neutral in fact as we'll as in name dur
ing 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 sentiments as well as
upon transaction that might be con-
strued 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 Amer
lean 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 nation fit beyond others to ex-
hibit the fine poise of undisturbed
judgment, the dignity Of self-control,
the efficiency of dispassionate action,
a nation that neither sits in judgment
upon others nor is disturbed in her
own councils 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 upon
ourselves the restraints which will
bring to our people the happiness and
the great and lasting influence for
noaoa wa covof for them -