Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-11
Will Seek to Convince Ger
many of Injustice to Man
kind of Tragedy.
REMARKS PRECIPITATE
TUMULT OF APPLAUSE
Only by Implication Does Presi-
dent Refer to Lusitania
Disaster.
AMERICA AND HUMANITY FIRST
Delivers Address Before 1000 Nat
uralized Americans in
Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, May 1o.-President
Wilson gave to a gathering Of 1000
naturalized Americans tonight the
first intimation of the course the United
States probably will pursue in the situa-
tion resulting from the loss OF more
than 100 American lives on the Brit
ish liner Lusitania. He spoke by i'm
plication, but his hearers interpreted
his remarks as meaning that while the
United States would remain at peace. it
would seek to convince Germany OF
the injustice to mankind OF the
tragedy.
America" said the President. "must
have the consciousness that on all sides
1t touches elbows and touches heart
with all the nations of mankind. The
example of America must be a special
example. And 1t must be an example.
not merely OF peace because 1t will not
fight but because peace Is a healing
and elevating influence of the world,
and strife Is not.
There is such a thing as man
being too proud to fight. There is such
a thing as being 30 right that 1t does
not need to convince others by force
that 1t Is right
REMARKS PRECIPTTATE
TUNULT OF APPLAUSE
These remarks precipitated tumult
OF applause and patriotic enthusiasm
attended by waving OF thousands OF
small American flags. The President
made no direct reference to the Lusi-
tania tragedy. but the audience did not
hesitate to read the application of his
statement.
The sentiment expressed in the
Presidents speech was epitomized later
by one of his closest advisers as "hu-
manity first"
While 1t had not yet been determined,
he said. exactly what steps would be
taken by the United States in the pres
ent crisis, the idea uppermost in the
Presidents mind was to show that
whatever course is adopted-no matter
how vigorous-it will have as Its OBJ
jective the good of humanity.
URGES LOYALTY FOR LAND
OF ONES ADOPTION
Introduced by Mayor Blankenburg.
who spoke in a distinctly German ac-
cent. welcome and an appeal for a
| single allegiance to the United States,
the President carried forward the idea
of the welding of foreign blood in the
makeup OF America by pointing out
| the true goal Of right American citizen-
ship to be a loyalty. not to the coun-
try of ones birth. but to the land OF
ones adoption.
while you bring" he said. "all
| countries with you. you come with a
| purpose OF leaving all other countries
behind you-bringing what Is best OF
their spirit. but not looking over your
shoulder or seeking to perpetuate what
you leave in them. certainly would
not be ono who would suggest that a
man cease to love the place OF his
| origin. 1t Is one thing to love tho
place where you were born and another
thing to dedicate yourself to the place
where you go. You can't be an Ameri-
can if you think Of yourself in groups.
America does not consist of groups.
man who considers himself as be-
longing to a national group Is not yet
an American.
MY advice to you is to think first,
not only Of America. but to think first
| of humanity. and you do not love hu-
manity IL you seek to divide humanity
| into jealous camps"
CONSTANTLY INTERRUPTED
BY SPONTANEOUS APPLAUSE
The President was constantly inter-
rupted by spontaneous outbursts of ap-
plause. He spoke clearly. and 80 quiet
was his audience of $4,000 that h could
be heard distinctly in all parts of the
hall. Everywhere red white-and blue
flags and bunting were displayed. and
band during the evening played pa
| triotic airs.
Some OF the passages in the Presi-
dents speech which the crowd ap-
plauded most loudly were these:
II am sorry for the man who seeks
to make personal capital out OF tho
passions of his fellow man. He mas
! lost the touch and ideal Of America,
for America was created to unite man.
kind by the passions that lift and unite,
and not by the passions that separate
and debase mankind.
The man who seeks to divide man
from man, group from group interest
from interest In the United States Is
striking at its very heart.
Il was born in America. You
dreamed of what America was to be.
and I hope you brought the dreams
with you. No man who does not see
visions will ever realize any high hopes
or undertake any great enterprise"
The President aroused much en-.
thusiasm when he said that he had felt
that he ought not to be away from
Washington. but after coming he found