The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-05-14
PRESIDENT URGES
AMERICA FIRST
Addresses 1000 AIien-Born at
Philadelphia.
PUTS HUMANITY ABOVE ALL
Says Example of U. S. Must Be Not
Merely of Peace Because IL
Will Not Fight, But Peace
Is EIevating.


Wilson gave to a gathering OF 4,ooo
naturalized Americans on Monday
night the first intimation of what
course the United States government
will pursue in the situation resulting
from the loss of more than 100 Amerl-
can lives on the Lusitanla.
He spoke by implication, but his
hearers interpreted his remarks as
meaning that while the United States
would remain at peace it would seek
to convince Germany of the injustice
to mankind of the tragedy of last
Friday.
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 1t
will not fight, but because peace is
healing and elevating influence of the
world, and strife is not.
There is such thing as man be-
ing too proud to fight. There is such
a thing as being so right that it does
not need to convince others by force
that it is right"
These remarks precipitated tu-
multi of applause and patriotic en-
thusiasm, attended by waving OF
thousands of small American flags.
The president made no direct refer
ence to the Lusitania tragedy, but the
audience did not hesitate to read the
application of his statement.
Introduced by Mayor Blankenburg,
who spoke on distinctly German &C.
cent, welcome and appeal for a sim
gle allegiance to the United States, the
president carried forward the idea Of
the welding of foreign blood in the
makeup of America by pointing out
the true goal of right American citi-
zenship to be a loyalty not to the
country of ones birth but to the land
of ones adoption.
"While you bring" he said, "all
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
shoulder or seeking to perpetuate
what you leave in them. / would not
certainly be one who would suggest
that a man cease to love the place of
his origin.
1T is one thing to love the place
where yoU were born and another
thing to dedicate yourself to the place
where you go. You can't be an Amer
lean if you think of yourself in groups.
A man who considers himself as be-
longing to a national group is not yet
an American.
my advice to you is to think first
not only of America but to think first
of humanity, and you do not love hui
mainly if you seek to divide humanity
in jealous camps"
Some of the passages in his speech
which the crowd applaudel most loud
ly we're these:
81 am sorry for the man who seeks
to make personal capital out of the
passions of his fellow man.
'tHe has lost the touch and ideal of
America, for America was created to
unite mankind by the passions that
lift and unite and not by the passions
that separate and debase mankind.
THE man who seeks to divide man
from man, group from group, interest
from interest in the United States is
striking at its very heart.
Il was born in America. You
dreamed of what America was to be,
and l hope you brought the dreams
with you. No man who does not see
visions will ever realize any high
hopes or undertake any great enter
prise" ~~l -r
There was tremendous ovation as
the president finished his speech.
Because of the present status of in
ternational affairs, extraordinary pre-
cautions had been taken to guard the
president during his stay in Philadel-
phia. Seven hundred and fifty police
men had been detailed for this duty.
On his return trip from the hall the
president rode for three miles along
streets almost solidly lined with cheer
ing people. Frequently he raised his
hat and bowed. Automobile horns
sounded a steady chorus. In the
Broad street station of the Pennsyl.
wanna railroad several thousand peo-
pie cheered as the president stepped
abroad his private car.
In Introducing the president Mayor
Blankenburg said:
Il present to you-God bless him
the president
Francois NNha,$ CnnrI,,