East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-02-28
Nation Must Guide by Principle,
Not ExpedienCy, Says
President Wilson
From President Wilson's speech at the Gridiron banquet
Saturday,

ffOm PRESIDENT wilson's speech at the GridrOn banquet
Saturday,
''Your talk Mr., Toastmaster has been great deal
about candidacy for the presidency. 1t is not new feel
ing my part, but which entertain with a greater
intensity than formerly, that who seeks the pres
dency of the United States for anything that will bring
to him an audacOus fool The responsibilities of the
office ought TO sober before he approaches it.
One of the difficulties of the office seldom appreciated
dare say is that is difficult to think while so many peo-
pie are talking and particularly while many people are
talking in way that obscures counsel and is entirely off
the point
"The point in national affairs gentlemen, never lies
along the lines of expedency always rests in the field
OF principle The United States not founded upon any
principle OF expedency it founded upon profound
principle of human liberty and of justice and whenever
1t bases its policy upon any other foundation than those
1t builds on the sand and not upon the solid rock
America ought to keep out of this war She ought to
keep out of this at the sacrifice of everything except
the single thing upon which her character and history are
founded her sense of humanity and justice If she acr
ces that she has ceased to be America she has ceased
TO entertain and to love the traditions which have made us
proud to be Americans, and when go about seeking
safety at the expense of humanity then for one will be-
eve that have always been mistaken in what have con-
ceved to be the spirit of American history
you never can tell your direction except by long
measurements. You cannot establish line by two posts
you have got to have three least know whether they
straight with anything and the longer your line the
more certain your measurement There only way in
which to determine how the future of the United States
going to be projected and that by looking back and see
ing whlch way the lines ran which led up to the present
moment of power and of opportunity There no doubt
about that.
There no question what the roll of honor in America
is The roll of honor consists of the names of men who
have squared their conduct by ideals of duty There no
one else upon the roster there else whose name
We care to remember when things upon a ma
tional scale
"And wish that whenever an impulse of impatience
comes upon u.s. whenever an impulse to settle thing
some short way tempts might close the door and
take down old stories of what American ideass
and statesmen did in the past and not let any counsel in
that does not sound in the authentic voice of American
tradition, Then shall be certain what the lines of the
future are because we know shall be steering by the
lines of the past We shall know that temporary con-
venence temporary expediency will lead us either to
be rash or to be cowardy. | would be Just as much
ashamed to be rash as would to be coward. Valor is
serespecting. Vaor is circumspect Vaor strikes only
when is right to strike Vaor wthhods itself from all
small implications and entangements and waits for the
great opportunity when the sword will flash if car
ried the light of Heaven upon its blade"