Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-01
that she would not be drawn into the
maeistrom

that she would not be drawn into the
maeistrom.
Sc But six months ago he said. was
merely the beginning o! the struggle
Another year has been added. and now
no man can competcntly say whether
the United States will he drawn into
the struggle or not. Therefore, ~ is
+ absolutely necessary that shoul!
take counsel together as 10 what is
necessary. as TO what we should do.
The circumstances of the day are
so extraordinary that perhaps IL is not
prudent for man upon whom the
responsibilities ~ affairs laid 10
know TOO particularly the details OF
what are happening
DOES NOT READ DETAILS
IN NEWSPAPER REPORTS
The trouble with a great many o;
our f.ilow-ci;tzens is that they .et
their imacinations become so engaged
in this terrible affair that they cannot
look upon II as those should who wish
TO keep a cool head and detached Iu"s-
,nent So many men on this side OF
the water arc seeing red that YOU seem
to in their thoughts the renee
tion of the blood that is being spent SO
copiously or tho other side OF the sea.
II is not wise for US 10 lot our thoughts
become so deeply involved that We
cannot think separately l must admit
to YOU very frankly that have been
careful 10 refrain from read!nS the de-
tails in the newspaper reports. ] have
wished to see the th!nG and realize y
only in its large aSNcc;S and 10 keep
my thoughts concentrated upon Amer
lea. her duty. her circumstances ana
her ,ashs--and her tasks have been
very difficult. They have not been very
negative"
He called attention. 10 the fact ;hat
both SIDES or The European contro'cr
have arpcalcd Ia America aS 4 judge
and that this country has been called
on for some sort OF "a protest Al every
,raEicai turn III til, course OF events
But, the President added. America was
called on to no something even more
difficult than ia keep even thc balance
of The WORLDS thought. She has been
called ON "a insert iu times OF war tho
standards OF peace.
There i. an old saying" he said.
that the laws are silent in the pres
ence ~ war Yes. not cni: the civil
laws OF individual nations. hut also
apparently the las that governs the
must e, times fall silent ana look on
IN dumhucss As 10 it's impotence.
and vet i, has h"eu aSsunr" I'd
throughout this struggle that rhA great
PRINCIPLES q: dumb law AND o: inter
nationa! comfy had not been suspend
ed, aud N. United states. as the great
rs, and most powerful OF the discr-
ra-.d nations. mas been looked to 10
hold high the standards which should
govern the relationship ~ nations 20
each other
LACK STRONG IMPULSES
OF IDEAL PRINCIPLE
II know that on The othe" side of the
water there has been great Gesl o.:
cruel IristuG cmeni with regard TO The
reasons WY America has remained
neutral TroS. who looked - us a. :
distance. my fe!io" citizens, do Ict fee!
the strong impulses o: iGfa! principle
rha: are N j.. The: co not feel the
conviction @: Ame-ica. -ha; hsr mis-.
ion Z. mission OF peace. and TIA,
-:-httoltut>s ca1no, Dl maintained as
standard r no widst =: arms The
- not realize nat back q al our cn.
%rGE by which maze oIlt - great
material wealth. snl c!e;.,cd creat ira
era! oov.-. a-s body o: idcs!ists.
-rgsh ~cra -saay 20 la down our lives
:or 'hoggat tnaH tc- Go.isr
5-p,c.-. some % them mink tia,
- s-@ holding -. .sr-- sH--becz -. n'e
-Ga -za- r.cas. while ~ ctHs-S are
S- 80 uDa- c-L=. -aL-r.t landing
-..- 49, ra-.-- has -t-- secen 50
r-r-e 'r@' lr ---us -lucs, y -les- Ia
~ - ro--s-- ~ s4a- It sao-- mat
-of g--- 80. 4ao-rstooa
.e<! 70. ,@ ~. fellow citizens
,-s -4. - .'<.fr,-,.s.
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