The Detroit times., 1915-04-21

whereas. we have rolling between Va
and those bitter days across the wa
ocean. Our atmosphere Is not yet
charged with those disturbing ele-
ments which must be felt and must
permeate every nation of Europe.
Unique Position
Therefore, IL ~ not likely that the
nations OF the world win some day
turn TO US for the cooler assessment
OF the element engaged7 am not
now thinking so preposterous
thought as that we should SIT In
judgment upon them. No nation 10
NJ 20 sht In judgment upon any other
have to assist In reconstructing the
processes OF peace Our resources are
untouched: we are more and more
becoming. by force OF circumstances.
the rnedlating nation OF the world In
respect of its finance. We must make
up our minds what are the best
things 10 do and what are the best
ways TO do them. We must put our
money. our energy. our enthusiasm,
our sympathies. into these things;
pared and our spirits ehastened
against the coming of that day. So
that i am not speaking In selnsh
spirit when Il say that our whole
duty for the present. mt any rate. 10
summed up in this motto:
America hrst'"
America First
Let US think OF America before
we think OF Europe. In order that
America may be IT TO be Europe's
friend when the day OF testing friend
ship comes. The test OF friendship Is
the other. but getting ready to help
both sides when the struggle Is over.
The basis OF neutrality, gentle
men. lis not indifference; IL Is not
self-interest. The basis of neutrality
h sympathy for mankind, ~ Is isif-
tmpartiality of spirit and OF judg-
mont I wish that all OF our fellow
citizens could realize that. There In
In some quarters disposition TO
create distemper In this body polite.
y Men are even utterins ISLANDERS
against the United States as II 20 ex-
cite her. Men are saying that " We
should go 10, war upon either side
there would be divided America
an abominabie libel OF ignorancel
America Is not all OF II vocal just
now. II Is vocal In spots. But for
one have a completes and abiding
faith In thAr great silent body OF
ADtestes1s jMhpi ere not standing up
END snSss,2 and e ers at,n ,ee ~
md outsantf support the duty OF Ann
soiidity and iof their loyalty and OF
their unanimity n we act Justly. as
I am that the history Of this country
has at every crisis and turning point
Illustrated this great lesson.
!. A Mediatino Nation
1--WE are the mediating nation OF
the world. l do not mean that we
undertake not TO mind our own busi-
ness and To mediate where other
word in a broader sense. We are
compounded OF the nations of the
world. We mediate their blood; we
mediate their tradition. We mediate
their sentiments; their tastes. their
passlong' we are ourselves CON-
able 20 understand all ma
tons. we are able TO understand them
In their compound. not separately, ms
partisans, bot unitedly, as knowing
and comprehending and employing
them all IL In In that sense that
mean that America IL the mediating
nation. The opinion OF America. the
action of America. II ready TO turn
and free TO turn I'm any direction.
ibid you ever reflect upon how al
most all other nations. almost every
other nation. has through all centur-
les been headed in one direction?
This IL not true OF the United states.
The United states has no racial mo.
mentum. IL has no history back OF IL
which. makes II run all OF Its ener-
gies and all OF it's ambitions In one
dlrection:. and America 10
free in this. that she has
no hampering ambition as n world
power III we have been obliged by
or have considered our
selves obliged by circumstances In
the past to take territory which We
otherwise would not have thought OF
taking. I believe I am right In saying
that we have considered IL our duty
to administer that territory. not for
but for the people living
I'm Il and 10 put this burden upon our
selves not to think that this thing Is
ours for. our use, but TO regard our
selves ms trustees OF the great busi-
ness for those TO whom II does really
belong, trustees. ready to hand over
the trust ut any time when the busi-
ness seems 10 make that possible and
feasible. That lis, what i mean by
saying we have no hamperfng ambi-
lions. We do not want anything that
does not belong 10 US. Isn't n6t5on
In that position free to serve other
nations. and isn't n nation like that
ready to form some part In the~opin-
ion OF the world?
10 Not Too Tlmid
MY interest In the neutrality OF
the United States II not the petty de-
sire TO keep out OF trouble. To judge
by my experience. have never been
able TO keep out OF trouble. i have
never looked for II. but have always
found II. i do not want to walk
around trouble. IL any man wants
scrap that is,an interesting scrap and
worth while. I am his man. i warn
4. a. A. A.