The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-04-21
MAKES PLEA
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likely that the nations of the world
Will some day turn TO US for the cooler
assessment OF the elements engaged?
] am not now thinking so preposterous
a hough as that we should sit in
judgment upon them. No nation Is ft
70 sit in Judgment upon any other ma
ton but that we shall some day have
TO assist in reconstructing the process
OF peace. Our are untouch-
ed; we are more and more becoming
by the force of circumstances the
mediating nation OF the world in re.
spect OF its finance. We must make
up our minds VIA are the best things
to do and what r the best ways 10
DO them. We must pay our money.
our energy. our enthusiasm, our sym.
pathy into. these things; and We must
have our judgments prepared and our
spirits chastened against the coming
OF that day. So hat | am not speak.
ing in a selfish spirit when ] say that
our whole duty for the present. at any
America first Let us think of
America before we think of Europe. In
order that America may be 1T TO be
Europe's friend when the day OF test
ed friendship comes. The test OF
the one side or the other. but getting
ready TO help both sides when the
struggle is yer
Basis OF Neutrality.
The basis of neutrality. gentlemen,
is not indifference: IL Is not self inter-
est. The basis of neutrality Is SYN
patty for mankind. II is fairness. IL
Is good Will at bottom. IL Is impartial
lily OF spirit and of judgment. | wish
that that all of u fellow citizens
could realize that. There Is in some
quarters a disposition to create dis
tempers In this body polite. Men are
even uttering ISLANDERS against the
United States as II to excite her. Men
are saying that IL we should go to war
upon either side, there viii be a III
videda America-an abdominal libel OF
igonrance; America Is not all of IL
vocal Just now. IL is vocal in spots.
But / for n have a complete and
abiding faith in that great silent body
or Americans who are not standing
up and shouting and expressing their
opinions Just now. but are waiting TO
hnd out and support the duty OF
america. ] am just as sure OF their
.solidity and of their loyalty and of
their unanimity, II We act Justly, as 1
am that the history OF this country
has at every crisis n turning point
illustrated this great lesson. We are
the mediating nation OF the world. I
do not that we undertook not to mind
our W business and TO mediate
where other people are quarrelling.
] mean the word I'm a broader sense
We are compounded OF the nations OF
,the world. We mediate their blood.
we mediate their traditions. we medi-
ate their sentiments. their tastes. their
passions; we are ourselves compound
ed OF those things. We are, therefore.
able to understand all nations. II Is
In that sense that ] meal that America
Is a mediating nation. The opinion
or America. the action OF America. n
ready to turn and free to turn in any
direction.
Willing TO Fight
My interest In the neutrality OF the
United States IL not the petty desire
10 keep u OF trouble. I have never
looked for II but ! have always found
II. do not want to walk around
trouble. II any man wants a scrap
that Is an interesting scrap and worth
while. am his ] warn him that
ne IL not going 10 draw me into the
scrap Tor his advertisement. but N ne
u looking for trouble that il the
trouble Of men I'm general and I can
help n little. why then ! am in for u.
But ] am interested IN neutrality be