Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-21
THIS NATION MUST
. PROVE TO WORLD
ITS SELF-MASTERY
Otherwise, It Will Not Be
Fit to Be Europe's Friend
When Test Comes.
GREATER WORK AWAITS 1T
THAN FIGHTING BATTLES
President Wilson Describes True
Neutrality Which Guides
Administration.
FUTURE WILL BE DIFFICULT
IIe Regards His Statement as of
Gravest Importance to Amer
lean People.
GREATER WORK AWAITS 1T
THAN FIGHTING BATTLES
FUTURE WILL BE DIFFICULT

NEW 1Ohh, April 20.-President
| Wilson to-day gave a definite and clear
statement OF the neutrality guiding
his administration during the. war In
| Europe. He chose the occasion of the
annual luncheon of the Associated
| Press for what he said he regarded as
! statement Of grnvest Importance to
tho American people.
The influence OF the newspaper In
molding public opinion, Mr. Wilson
said. prompted him to make clear his
! Ideas Of true neutrality. and. in doing
SO. to impress on his hearers the inn
portance OF adhering strictly to truth
| fulness and honesty in the dissemina-
tion OF tho news
Mr. Wilson seemed to weigh each
| word he uttered. The Importance he
| attached to his statement was re-
nected In request that no attempt be
made to paraphrase his speech or to
| give 1t publicity until the official
White House stenographer had tran
| scribed 1T In full.
GREAT DISTINCTION
AWAITS THIS COUNTRY
As the only great nation not en-
| gagged In the war or suffering under
the Immediate influence of the war
zone, Mr.. Wilson deeiNred that n great
distinction awaited the United States
when the hour OF readjustment should
| come. provided this nation should prove
to the world Its self-control and self
mastery. The past had been difficult,
he pointed out. but the future would
be moro difficult.
America, the President said, never
would attempt to sit In Judgment on
another nation. No nation was fit to
do that. he added. But America, free
from hamperlng ambitions as a world
power, free OF lust for territory.
calm. cool and without self-interest.
must be appealed to to assist In the
reconstructing processes OF peace.
The neutrality of tho United States.
Mr.. Wilson sale. had higher basis
than petty desire to keep out of
| trouble.
There Is something so much greater
to do than fight" he said Let us
think of America before we think Of
Europe, in order that America may be
Mt to be Europe's friend when the day
OF tested friendship comes The test
or friendship Is not sympathy with one
side or the other, but getting ready to
help both sides when the struggle is
over"
PRESIDENT WILSON
GREETED WITH CHEERS
The President was greeted with
cheers when he appeared at the
| luncheon, and constantly was inter-
rupted by applause and expressions Of
approval.
Il am deeply gratified by the gener-
GUS reception you have accorded me-"
he said. 1T makes me look back with
touch of regret to former occa sions
when 1 have stood in this place and
| enjoyed greater liberty than is
granted me to-day. There have been
times when I stood in this spot and
said what l really thought. and I pray
God that those days OF indulgence NAV
! be accorded me again.
But I have come here to-day. of
course. somewhat restrained by a sense
OF responsibility that l cannot escape.
| For take the Associated Press very
| seriously. l know the enormous part
that you play In the affairs, not only
OF this country. but of tho world You
deal In the raw material OF opinion,
and. If my convictions have any
validity. opinion ultimately governs
| the world.
1T is. therefore. Of very serious
things that think as face this body
| OF men. l do not think of you, how
ever. as members of the Associated
Press I do not think Of you as men OF
| different parties or OF different racial
| dervatlons. 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. be-
| cause whatever may be said about the
present condition OF the worlds az
fairs. II Is clear that they are drawing
! rapidly to climax, and Mt the climax
the test VIII come, not only OF the
nations engaged in the present colossal
struggle-it Will come for them, of
course-but the test will come to us
particularly.
ONLY GREAT NATION AT
PRESENT DISENGAGED
DO you realize that, roughly speak
ing. we are the only great nation at
present disengaEed? I am not speak
Ing, of course, with disparagement OF
| the greater of those nations in Europe
which are not parties to present
war, but l am thinking OF their close
neighhorhood to it. l am thinking
how their lives much more than ours
touch the very heart and stun OF the
business; whereas. we have rolling be-
tween us and those bitter days across
the water 5000 miles OF cool and silent
ocean. Our atmosphere Is not yet
charged with those disturbing elements
which must be felt and must permea,e
every nation of Europe. Therefore. Ia