The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-31
President Asks If They Viii
Permit Their Employees to
Volunteer for Traininga
ALLIANCE OF NATIONS
NOT ENTANGLlNG
A Union to Preserve Peace Of
the World Upon Easis Of
Right and Justice Would
Prove Disentangling

"ASi2HktoH, May SV.--FTes u . u
Wilson speaking at the Memorial Day
exercises at Arlington National Gene
terry today. said the people of this
country are ready to become partners
in any alliance of nations that would
guarantee public rights against sell
nsh aggression. He said America
stands ready TO fight against any ag-
erosion. but wants no additional ter
sltory.
The President, referring to the de-
nand OF business men for prepared
TO the acid test. This test, he ex-
planned, was whether they would give
men in their employment freedom for
military training.
Another Crisis Confronts Us.
His address, In part, follows:
The Union was saved by the pro-
cesses Of the Civil War. That was a
crisis which could be handled. IT
seems in no other way,
And there In at present upon us
crisis which seems to threaten to
be new crisis OF divp;o.- We know
that the war which is to ensue, vii,
be war of spirits and not OF arms.
The war In Europe has done a
very natural thing iii America. II has
stirred the memories of men drawn
from many OF the beliigerent stocks
1t has renewed in them a national
ieeling which had grown faint under
'f@ -uoth n" influence of peace. but
which now flares up when II looks as
Il a nation had challenged nation TO a
hnal reckoning. and they remember
siFung and know that thes are In this
lie and death grapple.
IN Is not singular that this should
have occurred, and up TO a certain
point n III not Just that we should
criticize. We have no criticism for
men who love the places OF their birth
and the source of their origin. We
do not wish men to forget their moth
ers and their fathers. th-ir fnrheara
INNING back through long lahorious
generations which have taken part In
the building up of the strength and
spirit OF other nations. No man quar-
rels with that
spiritual races@ of New Onion
But ali that We do criticize Is that
In some tnstances--they are not very
numerous-hut IN some instances men
have allowed this old ardor for an
other nationality to overcome their ar
dor for the nationality to which they
have given their new and voluntary
allegiance And 80 the United States
has again to work out by spiritual
process a new union. when men shalt
not think of what divides them, but
shah recall what unites them, when
men shall not allow old loves to take
the place of present alieEiances; when
men must, on the contrary. translate
that very ardor of love of country OF
their birth into the ardor of love FOR
the country of their adoption and the
principles which II represents
Il have no harshness In my hear,
t~E
which / have been trying to moderate
words to describe. but 1 summon them.
and summon them very solemnly not
to set their purpose against the pur-
pose OF America. America must come
hrst IN every purpose we entertain.
and every man must count upon being
cast out of our confidence, cast out
even OF our Tolerance. who does not
submit to that great ruling principle
America does not want any add
tional territory. She does not want
any selfish advantage over any other
nation In the world. but she does wish
every nation In the world to under
stand what she stands for and to re-
spect what she stands for: and I can
not conoeiye Of any man Of any blood
or origin failing TO feel an enthusiasm
for the things that America stands
for, or failing 70 see that they are
infinitely elevated above any purpose
or Aggregation or selfish advantage.
Raghts OF the Weak.
Il said the other evening In another
place that one OF the principles which
America held dear was that small and
weak States had as much right to
their sovereignty and independence al
large ana strong States. She believes
that because strength and weakness
nnfhfnU n n uyit har ~
pies. Her principles are for the rights
and liberties Of mankind. and this IL
the haven which we have offered to
those who believe that sublime and
sacred creed OF humanity.
And I also said that believed that
the people OF the United States were
ready to become partners in any al
lance Of the nations that would guar
antee public right above selfish agrees
sion. Some of the public prints have
reminded me, as II needed to be re-
minded. OF what General Washington
warned us against. He warned us
against entangling alliances.
II shall never myself consent to an
entangling alliance. but would gladly
assent to a disentanglfng alliance. an
alliance which would disentangle the
peoples Of the world from those COM
binations in which they seek their own
separate and private interests. and
unite the people Of the world to pre-
serve the peace Of the world upon a
basis Of common right and Justice.
There Ii liberty there, not limita-
tion. There 10 freedom. not entangle-
ment. There 10 the achievement OF the
highest things for which the United
states has declared it's plinciple.
I've have been engaged recently, in
discussing the processes 81 prepared
ness. ] have been trying to explain