Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-21
President Wilson in Powerful
Speech at Associated Press
luncheon Gives His Views
Of Country'S Duty,
SAYS SELF MASTERY IS
or GREAT IMPORTANCE
Reterafes Peaceful Policy Of
Administration and Dis
claims Any Intention of Ac-
Quiring Territory,

- .,o.st,,a totiassL SPECIAL LrAsup wtstl
New york, April 20.-Presldent
ufionn today gave "A definite ana clear
element OF the neutrality which is
.a,idine his administration during the
var In Europe He chose the occasion
~ ,he annual luncheon OF the AS
.ac;otad press. for what he said he
reosraed as a statement of gravest
importance to the American people.
The influence Of the newspaper In
mnnldine public opinion, Mr.. wilson
sid nrompted him to make clear his
,deas of true neutrality and in doing
- ia impress upon his hearers the
inheritance Of adhering strictly To
futhfuness and honesty in the as
semnation of the news
Mr. Wilson seemed TO weigh eaeh
word he uttered. The importance ne
attached to his statement was reflect
ea In a request that no attempt be
made 20 paraphrase his speech or 10
qiye il publicity until the official
White House stenographer had tran
scribed it in full.
Great Distinction for Country.
AS the only great nation not engag-
ed in the war or suffering under the
Immediate influence of the war zone,
MIR Wilson declared that a great dis
tnction awaited the United States
when the hour of readJustment
should come. provided this nation
should prove to the world its SELF
control and self mastery The past
had been difficult, he pointed out, but
the future would be more difficult.
America, the president said. never
would attempt to sit in judgment upon
another nation. No nation was fit TO
do that. ne added But America, free
from hampering ambitions as a world
power, free of a lust forN territory,
calm. cool and without self-interest,
must be appealed to. to assist in the
reconstructing process of peace.
More to do Than Fight.
The neutrality of the United States,
MIR. Wilson said, had Il higher basis
than petty desire to keep out oil
trouble.
There is something so much great
er to do than fight he said. Let
us think OF America first before we
think of Europe, in order that Amer,
lea may be fit to be Europe's friend
when the day of tested friendship
comes. The test Of friendship is not
sympathy with one side or the other,
but getting ready to help both sides
when the struggle is over"
The president. greeted with cheers
when he appeared at the luncheon
constantly was interrupted by ap-
plause and expressions of approval
The president was introduced py
President Frank b. Noyes of the AS
sociated Press and was greeted with
cheers
Takes A. i. Seriously.
II am deeply gratified by the gen
erous reception you have accorded
me- he said. ut makes me look back
with a touch of regret to former oc-
casions when | have stood in tins
place and enjoyed a greater liberty
than is granted today. There have
been times when | stood in this spol
and said what | really thought and
/ pray God those days of indulgence
may be accorded me again. But
have come here today, of course
somewhat restrained by a sense ol
responsibility that | cannot escape
For l take the Associated Press very
seriously / know the enormous part
that you play in the affairs, not only
Of this country. but of the world
You deal in the raw material of opin-
ion, and if my convictions have any
validity opinion ultimately governs
the world.
1T is therefore of very serious
things that / think as l face tins
body of men. | do not think OF you
however, as members of the Assocl'
ated Press. | do not think of YOU ai
men of different parties or of difter
ent racial derivations, or of differen
religious dominations. | want 10 tan
10 you as to my fellow citizens OF TN
United States. For there are serious
things which, as fellow citizens. WI
ought to consider. The times behlnt
Us, gentlemen, have been difficui
enough the times before us are like
ly TO be more difficult, because what
ever may be said about the presen
condition Of the worlds affairs, It i
clear that they are drawing rapldl'
10 a climax and at the climax the tes
VIII come, not only of the nations en-
gagged In the present colossal strug
ie--lt Will come for them, of course
nut the test will come to us particu
lary.
Only Great Nation Discngaged.
DO you realize that, roughl
Speaking, we are the only great ma
tion at the present disengaged. an
not speaking, of course, with dispar
asement of these great nations II
Europe which are not parties to tn
present war, but ! am thinking o
their close neighborhood to it. ] an
thinking. however, their lives, mucl
more than ours, touch the very hear
ana stuff Of the business; whereas W
nave rolling between US and tnos
nuter days across the water 400
miles Of cool and silent ocean. GU
atmosphere is not yet charged VIII
those disturbing elements which mus