Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-04-23

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
sympathy with one or the other but
getting ready to help both sides
when the struggle Is over"
The president was greeted with
cheers when he appeared at the lun-
cheon and constantly was interrupt
ed by applause and expressions of ap-
proval.
The president was introduced by
President Frank B. Noyes of the AS
sociated Press and was greeted with
cheers.
II arl deeply gratified by the gen.
erous reception you have accorded
me-" he said. 1T makes me look
back with touch of regret to form
er occasions when 1 have stood in
this place and enjoyed a greater lib
erty than is granted me today. There
have been times when l stood in this
spot and said what l really thought
and | pray God that those days OF
indulgence may be accorded me
again.
But I have come here today. of
course. somewhat restrained by a
sense of responsibility that l 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, if my con-
victions have any validity, opinion
ultimately governs the world"
1T is therefore of very serious
things that think as face this body
of men. do not think Of you, how
ever, as members of the Associated
Press. / do not think Of you as men
of different parties or OF different
racial deriviations, or of different re-
ligiOus denominations. / 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.
The times behind us, gentlemen, have
been difficult enough; the times be-
fore us are~. likely to be more diff
cult. because whatever may be said
about the present condition Of the
worlds affairs. it is clear that they
are drawing rapidly to climax. and
ut the climax the test will come, not
only of the nations engaged in the
present colossal strugEle-it Will
come for them of course-but the test
will come to us particularly.
"DO you realize that, roughly
speaking. we are the only great ma
tion at present disengaged? / am not
speaking of course, with disparage :
ment of the greater Of those nations
i'm Europe which are not parties to
the present war. but | am thinking OF
their close neighborhood to it. l am
thinking how their lives much more
than ours touch the very heart and
stuff Of the business; whereas. we
have rolling between us, and those
bitter days across the water three
thousand miles of cool and silent
ocean.
"Our atmosphere is not yet charg-
ed with those disturbing elements
which must be felt and must perme-
ate every nation of Europe. There
fore. it is not likely that the nations
of the world will some day turn to
us for the cooler assessment of the
elements engaged? | am not think
ing so preposterous Il thought that
we would sit in judgment upon them.
No nation is fit to sit in judgment
upon any other nation, but that we
shall some day have to assist in re-
constructing the processes of peace.
Our resources are untouched; we
are more and more becoming, by the
force of circumstances. the medating