Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-21
WILSON SPEAKS AT
ANNUAL LUNCHEON
ASSOCIATED PRESS
President States His Idea of Duties of Neutral
Nation-"D distinction Coming to the U. S."

New York, April 20. President
Wilson in an address at the annual
luncheon of the Associated Press here
this afternoon gave a definite state
ment of his idea Of true neutrality and
of the duties that devolve upon Amer
lea in connection with the European
war. The President declared that the
neutrality Of the United States was
not a petty desire to keep out of
trouble because there was something
so much greater to do. than fight. A
great distinction, he said. was coming
to the United States-the distinction
of a nation of self control and self
mastery He said such a nation was
bound to play an important part in
adjusting the affairs of the world once
the fighting is ended.
I'VE have no hampering ambitions"
he declared; I'VE do not want foot
of anybody's territory. Isn't such
nation bound to be free to serve the
other nations?"
The Presidents Address
The President was introduced by Pres
ident Frank b. Moves of The Associated
Press and was greeted with cheers.
II am deeply gratified by the generous
reception you have accorded me- he
said. 1T makes me look back with
touch Of regret to former occasions when
I have stood in this place and enjoyed a
greater liberty than is granted me today.
There have been times when / stood in
this spot and said what really thought;
and'1 pray God that those days of in
diligence may be accorded me again. But
l have come here today, of course, some
what TeSlTdlUeu ny Il SeIiSc VI IeSpOLlSl-
bility that l cannot escape. For l take
The Associated Press very seriously. I
know the enormous part that you play
in the affairs not only of this co .ntry but
of the world. You deal in the raw mate
rial of opinion and if my convictions
have any validity, opinion ulli. "a e., gov
ems the world.
Serious Thoughts
1T is, therefore, of very serious things
that l think as l face this body of men.
1 do not think of you, however, as me n
bers of The Associated Press. l do not
think of you as men of different parties
or of different racial derivations or OF
different religious denominations. | want
to talk to you as to my fellow citizens of
the United States. For there are serious
things which, as fellow citizens, we
ought to consider. The times behind us,
gentlemen, have been difficult enough;
the times before US are likely to be more
difficult because whatever may be said
about the present condition of the worlds
affairs. it is clear that they are drawing
rapidly to a climax and at the climax
the test will come not only of the nations
CA6d5Cu IA TIC pISSStlI SOlOSSdl SITuS-
gle; it will come for them, Of course, but
the test will come to us particularly"
Distinctive Position
do you realize that, roughly speaking,
we are the only great nation at present
disengaged&I am not speaking, of course,
with disparagement of the greater of
those nations in Europe which are not
o,r%ta <0N
thinking Of their close neighborhood to it.
am thinking how their lives much more
than ours touch the very heart and stun
of the business, whereas we have rolling
between US and those bitter days across
the water 5000 miles of cool and silent
ocean. Our atmosphere Is not yet chark-
ed with those disturbing elements which
must be felt and must permeate every
nation of Europe. Therefore is it not
likely that the nations of the world
will some day turn to us for the cooler
assessment Of the elements engaged? I
am not now thinking so preposterous a
thought as that we should sit in judg-
ment upon them; no nation is fit to sit
in judgment upon any Sother nation-but
that we shall some day have to assist in
reconstructing the processes Of peace
Our resources are untouched; we are
more and more becoming by the force
of circumstances the mediating nation of
the world in respect to it's finance, We
must make up our minds what are the
best things to do and 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
have our judgments prepared and our
spirits chastened against the coming of
that day. So that am not speaking in a
salfish spirit when say that our whole
duty for the present, at any rate. is
summed up in this motto: America first
Let us think Of America before we think
Of Europe. in order that America may
be fit to be Europe's friend when the
day of tested friendship comes. The
test Of friendship is not now sympathy
with the one side or the other, but get
ting ready to help both sides when the
struggle is over.
Basis Of Neutrality
The basis Of neutrality, gentlemen, il
not indifference. It Is not self interest.
The basis Of neutrality 10 sympathy for
CONTINUED on Page 4-column 81