The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-05-15
PRESIDENT WILSON FOR PEACE
CAUSE OF HUMANITY COMES
FIRST, NO NATTER WHAT
MAY BE DONE, HE
SAYS.
In Address to Naturalized Citizens ut
Philadelphia President Indicates
Probable Course Of United Sttaes I'm
Present Crisis.

Philadelphia. May 1O.-President
Wilson gave to a gathering of 1000
naturalized Americans tonight the
first intimation of the course the
United States probably will, pursue
in the situation resulting from the
loss OF more than a hundred Ameri-
can lives on the British liner Lusi-
tania. 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 in
justice to mankind Of the tragedy.
America" said the president,
must have the consciousness that on
all sides 1t touches elbows and
touches hearts with all the nations Of
mankind. The example of America
must be a special example. And it
must be an example not merely of
peace because 1t will not fight. but
because peace Is a healing and ele-
waiting influence Of the world and
strife is not.
There is such a thing as a mar
being too proud to fight. There is
such a thing as being so right that 1t
does not need to convince others by
force that 1t is right"
These remarks precipiated Z 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.
The sentiment expressed In the
presidents speech was epitomized
later by one of his closest advisers as
humanity frst." While 1t had not
yet been determined. he said, exactly
what steps would be taken by the
United Sttaes in the present crisis,
the Idea uppermost In the presidents
mind was to show that whatever
course Is adopted-no matter how
Ivigorous-it will have as its objec-
tive the good Of humanity.
Introduced by Mayor B~lankenburg.
who spoke In a distinctly German ac-
cent a welcome and an appeal for a
single 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 n true goal Of right american
citizenship to be loyalty not to the
country OF one birth but to the land
Of ones adoption.
while you bring" he said, "all
countries with you. you come with I.
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. 1 certainly would
not be n 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 an
other thing to dedicate yourself to the
plt ce where you go. You can't be an
American IL you think Of yourself in
groups. America does not consist Of
groups. A man who considers him
self as belonging 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
or humanity, and you do not love hu-
manity IL you seek to divide human
ity into Jealous camps"
The president was constantly inter-
rupted by spontaneous ~outbursts OF
applause. He spoke clearly and so
quiet was his audience of 5000 that
he could be heard distinctly in all
parts OF the hall. Everywhere red.
white and blue flags and bunting were
displayed and a band during the even
Ing played patriotic airs.
Some OF the passages in the presi-
dents speech which the crowd ap-
plauded most loudly were these:
IL am sorry for the man who seeks
to make personal capital out OF tho
passions of his fellowman. HI 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. -.
The man who seeks to divide man
from man. group from group. inter-
est from interest In the United States
Is striking at its very heart. . -.
NI wna horn a.. .