The Green Forest tribune., 1915-05-14
l. 5. WILL NOT GO TO WAR SAYS WILSON
WOULD CONVINCE GERMANY OF INJUSTICE TO MANKIND OF
 THE TRAGEDY.
REMARKS ARE APPLAUDED
President Wilson Tells 4,0CC Natural. ized Americans Plan That
 Will Be Pursued.

Philadelphia President Wilson gave to a gathering of 1000 naturaliz
 ed Americans and 11,000 others the
 first intimation of the course th'
 United States will pursue in the sit
 uation resulting from the loss of more than hundred American lives on the British liner Lusitania.
 H.s hearers interpreted his remarks as meaning that while the United States will remain at peace, it will seek to convince Germany of the in
 justice to mankind of the tragedy. America" said the president. must have the consciousness that on all sides it touches elbows and touches hearts with all nations of mankind The example of America must be a special example, and must be an eX- ample not merely of peace because it will not fight, but because peace is a healing and elevating influence of the world and strife is not
 There is such a thing as man being too proud to fight. There is such a thing as being so right that it does mot need to convince others by force tlat it is right"
 These remarks precipitated a tu- mutt Of applause and enthusiasm, at small American flags. The president made no direct reference to the Lusi- tania tragedy.
 Introduced by Mayor Blankenburg, who spoke ii distinctly German ac- cent, a welcome and an appeal for 2 single allegiance to the United States the president carried forward the idea of the welding of foreign blood to make up America by pointing out the true goal of American citizenship to be loyal not to the country of ones birth but to the land of ones adop- tion
 While you bring" he said, "all countries with you, you come with a purpose of leaving all other countries behind you-bringing what is best of -sleir spirit but not looking over your t.shoplder or seeking to perpetuate what you leave in them I would certainly not be one who would suggest that a man cease to love the place of his ori- gin. It is one thing to love the place of your birth and another 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. A man who considers himself as belong ing to national group is not yet an American.
 My advice to you is to think first not of America, but humanity, and you do not love humanity if you seek to divide humanity into jealous camps"
 The president was constantly inter- rupted by spontaneous outbursts of applause He spoke clearly and so quiet was his audience of 1500O that he could be heard distinctly III all parts of the great hall. Some of the passages in his speech, which tlle crowd applauded most loudly were these:
 "l am sorry for the man who seeks to make personal capital out of the passions of his fellcwman He has lost the touch and ideal of America, for America was created to unite man. kind by the passions that lift and unite and not by the passions that separate and debase mankind **
 "I was born in America You dream ed of what America was to be and hope you brought dreams with you. No man who does not see visions will ever realize any high hopes or under take any great enterprise"
 The president caused much enthu. siasm when he said he felt he ought not to be away from Washington and after coming he found that the gath. ering renewed his spirit as an American"
 "In Washington" he said, men tell you so many things every day that are not so and I like to come and stand in the presence of my fellow citizens and drink out of the common fountain with them, feeling the sense of their support"
 There was a tremendous ovation as the president finished his speech. Af terward he returned to the station and entered his private car.
 Because of the present status of in. ternational affairs, extraordinary pre. cautions had been taken to guard thr president during his stay in Philadel ph{Q