The Alaska daily empire., 1915-05-17
WILSON'S GREAT
 SPEECH TO ALIENS
 ATPHlLADELPHIA

A a - " -N -t
 President Woodrow Wilson's speech delivered last Monday night 60 4,oeo alien citizens of the United States and 11.0QO others, is here given in full, Co. gether with che speech Of Mayor R. Blankenburg. of Philadelphia. Ger man.American. who presided at the meeting and introduced the Presi- dent
 Mayor elankonbure's Speech
 Mayor Blankenburg's speech of in. ,roduction follows:
 Like ai alieu-born citizens, l came from foreign shores to find In the United States a home A great re- sponsibnity went with taking out our citizenship in the United States. New citizens must do more than swear al- legiance to their adopted country. They must forsake all other countries. Let me beseech you to be Americans first last and all the time, no mat ter what may happen in the world at large.
 No matter what our personal teet .ngs for the country we left behind our first allegiance is to the country of our adoption. ! cannot impress this too strongly on account Of the occurrences Of the last eight months. Thank God. we have a man in the White House who knows what is just, a man who knows what Co do.'
 The crowd interrupted with tu- mutt Of cheers, arose eu masse from the balconies and floor and waved the Stars and Stripes.
 q am perfectly willing, he went on ito leave the conduct of the great problem now confronting us in the hands of our great President"
 "I present to you-God bless him the President
 President Wilson's speech in fulh follows
 "It warns my heart that you should give me such a reception, but 1t is not of myself that wish Co think tonight but of those who have just become citizens of the United States. This is the only country in the world which experiences the constant and repeat ed rebirth. Other countries depend upon the multiplication of their own native people. This country is con- stantly drinking strength out of new sources by the voluntary association with 1t of great bodies of strong men and forwardlooking women.
 "Aud SO by the gift of the free will of independent people it Is constantly being renewed from generation to generation by the same process by which 1t was originally created. 1t is as if humanity had determined to see to it chat this great nation, founded for the benefit of humanity, should not lack for the allegiance of the peo- pie os the world.
 Allegiance to Great Ideal
 "You have just taken an oath of allegiance to the United States. Of allegiance to whom? of allegiance to no one. unless it be God. Certain ly not Of allegiance to those who tenn porarly represent this great govern ment. You have taken on oath ot allegiance to a great ideal to great body of principles. Co great hope of the human race You have said; We are going to America. not only to earn living. not only to seek the thiues which it was more difficult Go obtain where we were born. but to help forward the great enterprises oi the human spirit-to let men know that everywhere in the world there are men who will cross strange seas and go where a speech is spoken that Is alien to them. knowing that what ever the speech. there is but one longing and utterance of the human heart. and that is for liberty and Jus tice.
 Leaving An Countries Behind
 And while you bring ell 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 shoulders and seeking to perpetuate