Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-04-22
DEFINITE VIEW
OF NEUTRALITY
BY PRESIDENT
OCCASION OF ANNUAL LUNCHEON OF
ASSOCIATED PRESS HEARS
NATION SExECUTlvE.
SAYS AMERICA MUST BE APPEALED
TO BY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
IN RECONSTRUCTION

~tration during the war in Europe. lie
chose the occasion of the annual luncilc-
ON of the Associated Press held mere
Tuesday for what he said he regarded
as a statement of grave Importance To
the American people. The influence "f
the newspapers in moulding public olIn-
on Mr. Wilson said prompted him -
make clear his ideas of true neutrality
and ia doing 80 4" impress upon ms
hearers the importance of a!herlns
strictly 10 truthiulncSS and honesty In
dissemination If the news.
Mr.. Wilson seemed to weigh each
word he uttered. The Importance h.
attached to his tatcmcnt was reflect
ed in 4 request that 10 attempt H. made
10 p~araphrasc his speech or 4" give II
publicity until hc official While House
stenographcr had Transcribed II IA full.
As the only great nation not engaged
in the far or suffering under the immc
diatc influence Of the war zone. Mr.
Wilson said that u great distinction
awaited the United States when the
hour Of reimbursement should come. pro
vided this nation should prove 10 the
world its self control and self mastery.
The past has been difficult. h. pointed
ont, hut the future would he more DIM
cult. America. the president said. ncN
or would attempt To- sit in judgment M
on another nation. No nation was III
Ia do that he added. Blu America
free from hampcring ambitions. aS a
world power free of 4 last for territory.
calm. cool and without self interest.
must he appealed 10 Ia assist in the re-.
constructing processes of peace.
The neutrality of The United States.
Mr.. Wilson said. had 4 higher basis
than a petty desire To keep out Of trou-
Bile.
There is something 50 much greater
10 do than fight" he said. let a.
think Of America before We think Of Eu-
rope. ia order that America may be iii
ia bc Europc'r friend when the day Of
tested friendship comes. The test of
friendship j. not sympathy with one
side or the other but getting ready 10
help both sides when the struggle y ov-
rr."
The president. greeted with cheers
when he appeared al the luncheon. was
interrupted hy applause and expressions
of approval.
Il am deeply gratiticd 10y the genial
reception Won have accorded me-. he
said 1T makes me- look back with a
touch of regret Ia former occasions
when have stood ia this place aud en-
loved n greater liberty than j. granted
me today. There have been many times
when | stood in this spot and said that
| really thought. and | pray God that
those DAYS of indulgence may be- accord
ed me again.
But | have come here today Of course
somewhat restrained hv 4 sense of re
sponSibility that | can not escape. For
| take the Associated Press very serious
". know the cnormiuS part that YOU
play ia the affairs not only ~ this cuun
Try. but of the world. lou deal in the
raw material If opinion. and. ii my con
victions have amy VALIDITY. opinion ul
timatclv governs the world.
I'll il. therefore. of very serious
things that | think ~ | face this body
of men. | do not think Of Won, however.
as members Of the Associated Press. |
do not think Of YOU as men Of different
parties or different racial dcrivationS.
or If different religious denominations.
I want 10 talk to Won aS 20 my fellow
citizens Of the United States. For there
are serious things which aS fellow citi-
zcnS We ought e. consider. The times
behind us. gentlemen. have been difficult
enough: the times before ~ are likely 10
he more difficult because whatever may
BE- said about the present condition oi
the worlds affairs. il i clear they are
drawing rapidly Ia 4 climax AMI 1T the
climax the test will come. not only Of
the nations engaged in the present 20
losSal struggle; il will come for them.
of course. but the test will comc to IL
particularly.
DO YOU realize that. roughly speak
ing. We are the only great nation at
present ~diScngascd? ! am not speak
ing course. with Disagreement Of these
great nations ia conflict.
MY interest in the neutrality Of the
United States j. not the petty desire to
keen ont ~ trouble.
But | am interested in neutrality
because there j. a distinction waitin.
for this nation no Other nation ever
Vet has got. That j. the distinction of
absolute self control and self mastery.
Nov. cavct for America this Splcn-
did courage Of reserve moral force and
wanted - point ont 10 Won gentlemen
simply this: There i news and news.
There is what il called news from Turtle
bav that turns out to lac fal>ch"nd. NJ
anv rate in what il il said Ia signify aud
which. il YOU could get the nation ta he-
lieve il true. might disturb orr equilih
irum and orr self possession We
ou"ht not IL deal IN stun Of that kind :"
The world ought L. know the truth
hut the world "ugt not NJ this ncriod
cf unstable cnnilihrium 10 he disturbed
Nv rumor. ought not 10 be disturbed bv
imaginative combinations Of circum-