Connecticut western news., 1914-08-20
WILSON ASKS US
 TO BE NEUTRAL
Warns All Citizens 10 B0 Very
 Guarded In Speech.
STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE

Don't Take Sides, the President Urges,
 Says Effect of Struggle Here De-
 Pends on What American Citizens
 Say and Do-Remain Neutral In Fact
 ss Well as In Name.
 President Wilson issued the follow. ing proclamation:
 My Fellow Countrymen-I suppose that every thoughtful man in America has asked himself during the last trou. bled weeks what influence the Euro. pean war may exert upon the United States, and I take the liberty of ad dressing 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 con duct 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 neutral ity, which Is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all con. cerned
 "The spirit of the nation in this crit. ical matter will be determined largely by what individuals and society und those gathered in public meetings do and say, upon what newspapers and magazines contain. upon what minis. ters utter in their pulpits and men pro. claim as their opinions on the street.
 Let Passion Alone.
 "The people of the United States arp drawn from many nations aud 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 na- ton. others another. to succeed In the nlomentous struggle. It will be easy toeexcite passion and difficult to inlay 1t. Those responsible for exciting 1t will assume a heavy responsibility. re- sponsibility for no less thing than that the people of the United States.
 
 loyalty to its government should unite theni as Americans all. bound in honor and affection to think first of her and her interests-may be divided In camps of hostile opinion. hot against each other. involved in the war itself in i'm. pulse and opinion if not In action.
 "Such divisions among us would be C,A .4 seriously stand in the way of the prop. CT performance of our duty as the one great nation at peace, the one people holding itself ready to play a part of imperial mediation and speak the counsels of peace and accommoda. tion. not as a partisan, but as a 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 passionately talk. 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.
 No "Transaetione"' Tn Aid
 We must be impartial in thought us we'll as in action: must put a curb upon our sentiments as well as upon every transaction that might be con. strued as d preference of one party 70 the struggle before another.
 "My thought is et 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 fin this time of peculiar trial a nation At beyond oth. CTS to exhibit the fine polse of undls- turbed judgment. the dignity of self control. the efficiency of dispassionato action: n nation that neither sits in judgment upon others nor is disturb. e 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 upon ( selves the restraints which will bring to our people the happiness and tha oreat and lasting influence for