The Washington times., 1915-04-21
THINK OF AMERICA
FIRST, WILSON ASKS
President Declares Great 0p-
portunity Awaits U. S. After
Conclusion of World War.

makes me look back with a touch OF re-
gret TO former occasions when I have
stood in this place and enjoyed a great
er liberty than Is granted me today.
There have been times when 7 stood in
this spot and said what really thought.
and 1 pray God that these days OF in
dulgence may be accorded me again.
But ] have come here today, Of
course, somewhat restrained by a sense
Of responsibility that / cannot escape.
For / take the Associated press very
seriously. i know the enormous part
that you play in the affairs not only of
this country. but of the world You deal
In the raw material of opinion and II
my convictions have any validity, orin-
ion ultimately governs the world.
1T Is. therefore of very serious things
that I think as I face this body Of mcn
1 do not think Of you however. as mem
bers Of the Associated Press. do not
think Of you as men of different parties
or Of different racial derivations. or qf
different religious denominations. l
want to talk to you as to my fellow
citizens of the United States. For there
are serious things as fellow citizens we
ought to consider.
Reaching Climax.
THE times behind us. gentlemen. have
been difficult enough; the times before
| us are likely to Sbe more difficult be-
| cause whatever may be said about the
present conditions OF the worlds af-
| fairs, It Is clear that they are drawing
rapidly to climax. and at the climax
| the test VIII come, not only of the ma
struggle. II will come for them. of
| course. but the test will come to us
particularly.
DO you realize that, roughly speak
ing. we are the only great nation at
present disengagcd? | am not speaking.
OF course, with disparagement of the
greater of those nations in Europe
which are not parties TO the present
war. but I am thinking of their close
| neishborhood TO 1t. | am thinking how
their lives much more than ours touch
| the very nee ri and stun of the busl-
ness: whereas We have rolling between
US and those bitter days across the
| water 1000 miles Of cool and silent
| ocean. Our atmosphere Is not Yet
charged with those disturbing elements
which must be felt and must permeate
| every nation OF Europe. Therefore. Is
| II not likely that the nations of the
| world will some day turn to us for the
cooler assessment OF the elements en-
| gagged?
None Fit To Judge.
| II am not now thinking so prepos-
| ferrous q thought that We should sit in
judgment upon them. No nation is nj
to sit in Judgment upon any other ma
tion: but that we shall some day have
| to assst in rcconstructing the processes
| OF peace. Our resources are untoucned;
| we are more and more becoming by iha
| force oil circumstances the mediattng
nation OF the world in respect to is
finance We must make up our MINDS
| ,,.h, bn of ~
| what are the best ways TO DO them
We must put our money, our energy
our enthusiasm. our sympathy into
| these things and We must nave or
chastencd against the coming or ,th4'
! Uay
80 that an no: speaking IN n
selfish spirit when . y that our VII"
| lu:l for Re DI&sent. At am rate, -
summed NJ IN this INotto: Amer 8
first 81 Ns thInk ot Arnefica he'''T'
We think Cf tiulope. in ">un" ;5a'
America may He III 20 oe europe 1
s@io mes. Tho test OF Friendship il
not wow s"npathy with the one SIDE
or rha othry, but getting ready - h"lI
io;h sides : hen tho .t!Hgg'e is over
Basis of Neutrality.
"Tne Lasis of ncutra,ity. sent!eT'en. I.
rot intiiffcferce: it is :,ot salt-interest
The basis "f neutrality Is sympa thy TO
mankind. 1t Is fairness. it is ;-ood viii
at bottom. 1t Is impartial!ty of spri
and of judgment
"f wish that all of our fellow citizens
could realize that. There is in som'
quarter a disposition TO create distem
pers in this body polite. Men are eve,
uttcrinS ISLANDERS against the Cnite'
States as il to excite her. Men ar. say
ing that If We should so to war upo'
either side there will be a divided
America-an abominable libel of ignor
ancc. America is not. all of II, Noca
just now. 1t Is vocal in spots. .
But | for one have complete an'
abiding faith in that great silent bod
of Americans who are not standing VI
and shouting and expressing their opin
ions Just now, but are waiting to fin
out and support the duty of America.
am just as sure of their solidity and o
their loyalty and of their unanimity,
we act justly, as ] am that the histor
, OF this country has at every crisis an
turning point illustrated this great les
son.
? Is Mediating Nation.
I'VE are the mediating nation Of tn
world. do not mean that We under
: take not to mind our own business an
to mediate where other pcop!e ~
ouarrci;ng. mean the "crd IN
broader sense. We are compounded O
the notions Of the world. We media
: their blood. we mediate thew traditions
, %c mediate their anut.:'..nts, thei
tastes, their passions; We he 0tTse!Ne
compounded of those THU. We are
therefore, ah.r TO uHdo"EtaTd all la
tions: We are able to understand the.
in the ComDuund. not 3npHrately, n
partisnns, but unite ilY a" i;iO"ing so
comprehending and cmto0ylng them a.
1t Is In thet Gems" that 7 ,rean tha
!. America is n lnGdisJ!nE nation. Th
opinion OF America. III" action c
america, is ready 70 tura and free {
turn In any dire ltion.
L "Did you 'yer reflect uroN how q
[ most all other nations. almost ever
other nation, has through long centuro
. been beaded IN one Iirection" That
not trUc OF the United States. Th
4 United States has no racial momentum
= 1t has no history back of il whic
I makes It run all its energies and all II
ambitions in one particular direction
a and America Is particularly free I'm thi
I that she has no hampering ambition a
= Il wcrld power.
r Government For People.
III We have been obliged by circun
stances. or have considered ourselves I
be obliged by circumstances, in the pa!
!, TO take territory which we otherwis
i would not have thought of taking b'
lieve l am right in saying that We haV
!. considered it our duty to administt