The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-16

In it's head assess the merits of the
controversy. but because America has
promised the world to stand apart and
maintain certain principles Of action
which are grounded in law and in JUS
tice. We are not trying TO keep out
of trouble; we are trying to preserve
the foundations upon which peace can
be rebuilt. Peace can be rebuilt only
upon the ancient and accepted prin-
ciples of international law. only upon
those things which remind nations of
their duties to each other and deeper
than that, of their duties to mankind
and to humanity.
America has a great cause which
is not confined to the American con-
tinent. 1t is the cause of humanity
itself. 1 do not mean in anything
that / say even to imply a Judgment
upon any nation or upon any policy,
for my object here this afternoon Is
not to sit in Judgment upon anybody
but ourselves and to challenge you to
assist all Of us who are trying to make
America conscious of nothing so much
as her own principles and her own
duty. ! look forward to the necessity
In every political agitation in the years
which are Immediately at hand of
calling upon every man to declare
himself where he stands.
Is 1t America first. or Is 1t not :?
We ought to be very careful about
some Of the impressions that we are
forming Just now. There is too gen.
sral an impression. fear. that very
large numbers of our fellow citizens
born In other lands have not enter
tanned with sufficient intensity and
affection the American ideal; but their
numbers are not large. Those who
would seek to represent them are
| very vocal but they are not very in
fiuential. Some of the best stuff Of
America has come out of foreign
lands. and some of the best stuff in
America Is In the men who are
| naturalized citizens of the United
States. / would not be afraid upon
the test Of America first to take q
census of all the foreign born citizens
of the United States, for I know that
the vast majority of them came here
because they believed in America and
their belief in America has made them
better citizens than some people who
! were oorn In America. They can
say that they have bought this privi-
lege with great price. They have
left their homes. they have left their
kindred. they have broken all the
nearest and dearest ties Of human
life In order to come to q new land,
take n new rootage. begin a new lift,
and so by self sacrifice. express their
confidence In a new principle; where
as. 1t costs US nothing of these things.
We were born into this privilege; we
were rocked and Graded In 1t; we
did nothing to create II, and 1t is,
therefore. the greater duty on our
part to do a great deal to enhance it
and preserve 1t. / am not deceived
as to the balance of opinion among
the foreign born citizens Of tho United
States, but 1 am in a hurry to have
an opportunity to have a lineup and
see the men who are thinking first
OF other countries stand on one side
l-Biblically 1t should be the left
and all those that are for America
first. last and all the time on the other
side.
Now you can do a great deal in
this direction. l might have the af-
lection of my fellow men. We con-
stantly discipline our fellow citizens
by having an opinion about them.
That is the sort of discipline we ought
now to administer to everybody who
Is not to TO very core of his heart an
American. Just have an opinion about
him and let him experience the at
mospheric effects of that opinion.
And know of no body of persons
comparable to body Of ladies for
creating an atmosphere Of opinion.
have myself in part yielded to the in
iiuences Of that atmosphere. for II
took me long time to observe how
was going to vote in New Jersey.
so 1t has seemed to me that my
privilege this afternoon was not mere
ly a privilege of courtesy, but the real
privilege OF reminding YOU, for l am
sure 1 am doing nothing more, OF the
great principles which we stand to
promote and l for my part rejoice
that we belong to country in which