Palisadian., 1915-04-24
Pres. Wilson's
Most Notable
Grafton Of All

OratiOns, delivered on Tuesday after
noon last, at the Waldorf, before the
Associated Press:
am deeply gratified by the gener-
Gus reception you have accorded me.
1t makes me look back with touch
of regret to former occasions when
have stood in this place and enjoyed
a crater liberty than is granted me
to-day. There have been times when
l stood in this spot and said what |
really thought, and l pray God that
those days of indulgence may be ac-
corded me again. But | have come
here to-day, of course, somewhat
restrained by sense of responsible
ity that l cannot escape. For l take
The Associated Press very seriously.
| know the enormous part that you
play in the affairs, not only of our
country, but of the world. You deal
in the raw material of opinion, and,
if my convictions have any validity,
opinion ultimately governs the world.
1t is therefor, of very serious things
that think as l face this body of men.
l do not think of you, however, as
members of The Associated Press.
do not think of you as men of differ
ent parties or of different racial de-
rivations, or of different religious de-
nominations. l want to talk to you as
to my fellow-citizens of the United
States. For there are serious things,
which as fellow citizens we ought to
consider. The times behind US, gentle
men, have been difficult, because what
ever may be said about the present
condition of the worlds affairs, it is
clear that they are drawing rapidly
to a climax, and at the climax the
test will come, not only of the nations
engaged in the present colossal
struggle-it will come for them, of
course-but the test will come to US
particularly.
American Notable Exception
Do you realize that, roughly speak
ing, we are the only great nation at
present disengaged? l am not speak
ing, of course, with disparagement
of the greater of those nations in
Europe which are not parties to the
present war, but l am thinking how
their lives much more than ours
touch the very heart and stuff of the
business, whereas, we have rolling be-
tween us and those bitter days across
the water 5000 miles of cool and
silent ocean. Our atmosphere is not
yet charged with those disturbing
elements which must be felt and must
permeate every nation of Europe.
Therefore, is it not likely that the
nations of the world will some day
turn to us for the cooler assessment
of the elements engaged? l am not
now thinking so preposterous
thought as that we should sit in judg-
ment upon them.
Mediating Nation of the World
No nation is fit to sit in judgment
upon any other nation, but we shall
some day have to assist in recon
structing the processes OF peace. Our
resources are untouched, we are more
and more becoming by the force OF
circumstances the mediating nation
nation of the world in respect OF its
finances. We must make up our minds
what are the best things to do and
what are the best ways to do them.
We must put our money, our energy,
our enthusiasm, our sympathy into
these things, and we must have our
judgments prepared and our spirit
chastened against the coming of that
day. So that l am not speaking IN
a selfish spirit when l say that our
duty for the present, at any rate, is
summed up in this motto America
first" Let us think of America be-
fore we think of Europe, in order that
America may be fit to be Europe.s
friend when the day of tested friend
ship comes. The test of friendship
is not now sympathy with the one
side or the other, but getting ready
to help both sides when the strug-
gle is over.
Neutrality not Indifference
The basis of neutrality, gentlemen,
is not indifference; it is not self
interest. The basis i'm neutrality is
sympathy for mankind. 1t is fair
ness, it is good will at bottom. 1t
is impartiality of spirit and Judg-
ment. I wish that all of our fellow
citizens could realize that. There IS
in some quarters disposition to Gre
ate distempers in this body polltlc.
Men are even uttering ISLANDERS
against the United States, as If to
excite her. Men are saying that II
we should go to war upon either side
there will be a divided America
an abominable libel of ignorance.
America is not all of it vocal just
now. 1t is vocal in spots. But |, for
one, have a complete and abiding
faith in that great silent body OF
Americans who are not standing. up
and shouting and expressing their
opinions just now, but are waiting
to find out and support the duty OF
America. I am just as sure OF their
solidity and of their loyalty and OF
their unanimity as l am that the his
tory of this country has at every
crisis and turning point illustrated
this great lesson.
u. S. Compound of Other Nations
We are the mediating nation OF the
world. I do not mean that we under
take not to mind our own business
and to mediate where other people
are quarreling. l mean the world IN
a broader sense. We are compounded
of the nations of the world. We
mediate their blood, we mediate their
traditions, we mediate their sentl-
L..Io. +Loi,. naccIopS.