East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-06-14
KEYNOTE SPEECH OUTLINES THE WORK
WHICH THE HAND OF WOODROW WILSON
HAS ACCOMPLISHED WHILE president

in its relations with the European bell
ligerents must continue the policy
that it has pursued since the begin
ming OF the war, the policy Of strict
neutrality in relation to every warning
nation. the policy which Thomas JEFF
ferson defined as rendering to all the
services and courtes.es Of friendship
and praying for the establishment
Of peace and right!'
Third. That save where the hber-
ties, the territory or the substantial
rights Of the United states are invad-
cd and assaulted. it is the duty OF
this nation to avoid war By every hon.
orable means.
Fourth: That il is the duty Of the
United States government to maintain
the dignity and the nonor Of the AM
erican nation and IN every situation
TO demand and secure from every
belligerent the recognition Of the neu-
tral rights of its citizens.
Fifth: That because the president
of the United States mas asserted
these principles ana pursued these
policies the American people must
support him with ardor and with en-
thusiasm in order that these princi-
ples and policies may be known to all
the world, not as the opinion of an
individual but as the doctrine and
taith of a loyal and united nation.
The Policy of Neutrality Is AS Amer
-.
In emphasis OF these self-evident
propositions we assert that the policy
of neutrality is as truly American as
the American flag
For 200 years neutrality was the
ory; America made it a fact.
The first president of the United
States was the first man to pronounce
neutrality, a rule of international con-
duct.
In April, 1898, Washington declared
the doctrine; and within month,
John Jay, chief justice of the supreme
court of the United States, is an ep-
och-making decision from the bench,
whose realization would ensure uni
versal and perpetual peace wrote the
principle into the law of this land.
The Declaration of Independence had
toretold its bE declaring the rest Of
, mankind enemies in war, in peare
friends" the constitution recognized
it; but the first president of the
United States by Interpretation gave
it vitality and power
And so neutrality is American in its
| Initiation.
Thirty years later Prime Minister
Canning in the British parliament
pointed to this American policy of
neutrality as a model for the world;
and eighty years later, after approx
al by various statutes and agreements
it was written almost word for word
in the treaty wherewith We settled
our differences with England over vi
Citations of neutrality throughout the
! civil war.
And SO neutrality IS American in its
consummatlon.
| And today in this hall, so that all
the world may hear. We proclaim that
this American policy of neutrality is
the policy which the present admins
tration pursues with patriotic zeal
and religious devotion: while Europes
skies blaze red from fires of war. Eu-
ropes soil turns red from blood Of
men, EurOpe's eyes see red from tears
OF mourning women and from sobs OF
/ starving children.
The men who say this policy is not
American appeal 10 passion and to
prejudice and ignore the facts of his
tory.
Neutrality is Americas contribution
/ to the laws of the world Sir Henry
Maine says so, Charles Francis Ad-
ans says SO, Henry Clay says so, Dam
ieh Webster says so and upon theeyi-
dence of these witnesses we rest our
Americanism against the sputterings
of pepper-pot politicians or the fab
relations of those with whom a false
issue is a good issue until its falsity is
shown. its righteousness exposed.
History Repeats Itself.
For enforcing this policy OF neu-
trality George Washington was hoot.
ed by a bowling mob of 10000 war
fanatics who threatened to pull him
from the presidential chair and start
revolution. But half a century lat
er Charles Sumner said that Wash
ington upholding the peaceful neutral
ity of this country. while he met uu-
moved the clamor of the people wick
edly crying for war. is greater man
than Washington crossing the Della
ware or taking Cornwallls' sword at
Yorktown"
For supporting this policy Of neu-
tality in a speech in the city OF New
york, Alexander Hamilton was stoned
to death. John Jay burned tn effigy,
Jefferson called spneless poltroon
and Lincoln pictured as a craven. To-
day, however the nation goes to al
these men for its very conception ot
all thar is best in American citizen
ship.
The fate Of the fathers OF our
country AT the hands of a noay minor
ity is the fate Of the president Of the
United States today But their r.
ward of dIgnltes merlted and houera
conferred will be his reward when ths
people speak on the eighth OF next
November
Where the President ~laIsl-.
To win this priceie4s right OF nsg.
trality this nation had t1 undergo a
long and painful struggls