The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-05-13
PRESIDENT WILSON ADDRESSES
1900 NATURALiZED CITIZENS
AT PHILADELPHIA.
DOES NOT NAME LUSITANIA
Blows Embers of National Conscious.
ness Into Flames With Appeal to
Love Of Country.

ed AmermicanS the first intimatiOn OF
the course the United States probably
will pursue in the situation resulting
from the loss of more than hundred
American lives on the British liner
Lusitania. He spoke by implication,
but his hearers interpreted his re-
marks as meaning that, while the
United States would remain at peace,
1t would seek to convince Germany
of the injustice to mankind of the
tragedy.
America" said the President,
must have the consciousness that on
all sides it touches the elbows and
touches hearts with all the Nations OF
mankind. The example of America
must be special example. And it
must be an example not merely of
peace because it will not fight, Dut be-
cause peace is a healing and elevating
inlluance of the world and strife IS
not.
There is such thing as man
being too proud to fight. There is
such a thing as being SO right that it
does not need to convince others by
force that it is right"
These remarks precipitated tn.
multi of applause and patriotic en-
thusiasm attended by waving Of thou
sands OF small American flags. The
President made no direct reference to
the Lusitiania tragedy, but the au-
dience did not hesitate to read the ap-
plication Of his statement
The sentiment expressed in the
Presidents speech was epitomized
later by one of his closest advisers
as humanity first" While it had not
been determined he said exactly
what steps would be taken by the
United States in the present crisis,
the idea uppermost in the Presidents
mind was to show that whatever
course Is adopted matter how Wig
orously, it will have as its objective
the good of humanity.
introduced by Mayor Blankenburg
who spoke in a distinctly German ac.
cent a welcome and an appeal for a
single allegiance to the United States,
the President carried forward the idea
or the welding of foreign blood in the
makeup of America by pointing out
the true goal OF right American citiZ-
enship to be a loyalty not to the coun.
try Of ones birth but TO the land of
ones adoption.
while you bring" he said, call
countries with you, you come with
purpose Of leaving all other countries
behind YOU bringing what is best Of
their spirit. but not looking over your
shoulder or seeking to perpetuate
what you leave in them. certainly
would not be one who would suggest
that n man cease to love the place of
his origin. 1t is one thing to love the
place where you were born and an.
other thing to dedicate yourself to the
place where you go. You can't be an
American If you think of yourself In
groups. America does not consist of
groups. man who considers him
self as belonging to National group
Is not yet an American. :.
My advice to you is to think first
not only Of America but to think first
OF humanity and you do not love hu-
manity If you seek to divide human
ity into jealous camps"
The President was constantly inter.
rupted by spontaneous outbursts of
applause. He spoke clearly and so
quiet was his audience Of $4,000 that
he could be heard distinctly in all
parts of the hall. Everywhere red
white and blue flags and bunting were
displayed and band during the even.
Ing played patriotic airs.
There was a tremendous ovation as
the President finished his speech. AT.
terWard he returned to the station and
entered his private car. He was due
to leave for Washington at midnight
Some Of the passages in the Presi.
dents speech which the crowd an.
plauded most loudly were these:
Il am sorry for the man who seeks
to make personal capital out Of the
passions of his felowman. He has
lost the touch and ideal of America
for America was created to unite
mankind by the passions that lift and
unite and not by the passions that
separate and debase mankind.
"The man who seeks to divide man
from man, group from group, inter
est from interest in the United States
is striking at its very heart. -.
II was born in America. Yo,
dreamed Of what America was to be
and hope you brought the dreams
with you. No man who does not see
visions will ever realize any higl
hopes or undertake any great enter
prise"
The statiOn was packed with 9
cheering crowd when the president
arrived from Washington Mr.. vii
son was escorted up Broad street b,
the mounted city troop OF Philadel
phia. The street was lined with people
who shouted noisy and enthusiastic
welcome. The president bowed, rails.
ed his hat and smiled.