New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-01

Of financing the preparedness pro-
gramme came up also fox the frst ,ime,
the President declaring his confidence
that the people we're willing to foot the
bills.
He replied. too 20 the argument that
not enough men would volunteer 20 fill
the ranks of the continental army.
"If there will not be-" he declared.
1T is not the America that YOU and :
know. But | know there will be. be
cause I know that the patriotism Of
America is not boast. but splendid
reality. am sorry for the skeptics.'
The address closed with the warning
the President has been repeating with
added emphasis at every occasion.
Relies on Direct Appeal.
President Wilson said in his address;
"Nr. Chairman. fellow citizens: You
put me under great obligation 70 you
by the generosity Of your reception.
And / am quite aware that il is largely
because you know how desirous ! an
10 speak 20 you with the utmost frank
ness upon some of the most essential
issues of our national life.
The Constitution of the United
states explicitly lays upon the Presi-
dent the duty of reporting at the be-
ginning OF each annual session of Con-
gress TO the Representatives OF the
people concerning the state OF the
Union. And IL seems 10 me that Il is
a very natural inference from that
command that the President should
from time 10 time, when unusual cir
cumstances arise. make his report, so
TAR as i is possible for him 20 DO so,
directly to the people themselves. IL
- tUirh fhuf -.
have taken the liberty Of coming TO
YOU tonight.
Was Merely the Beginning
"A year ago il did seem as IL Amer
lea might rest secure without any great
anxiety and take it for granted that
she would not be drawn into this mael-
strom, but six months ago was merely
the beginning of the struggle. Another
year has been added, and now no man
can competently say whether the United
states will be drawn into the struggle
or not. Therefore 10 is absolutely nee
essary that we should take counsel to-
gether as 10 what is necessary that we
should do.
The trouble with d great many OF
our fellow citizens is that they let
their imaginations become so engaged
IN this terrible affair that they cannot
look upon it as those should who wish
TO keep cool head and detached judg-
ment. SO many men on this side OF
tho water are seeing red that you seem
TO see In their thoughts the reflection
OF the blood that Is being spent so
eopiOusly on the other side Of the sea-
IL is not wise for us 70 let our thoughts
become so deeply involved that we can
not think separately.
Have you not realized how all the
world seems to have been constantly
conscious from the beginning of this
struggle that America was, so TO say,
the only audience before whom this
terrible plot was being worked out?
How everybody engaged In the strug-
gle has seemed 70 turn 70 America for
the moral judgments concerning il?
How each side IN the Titanic struggle
has appealed TO us TO Judge their
enemies in the wrong? How there has
tcen no tragical turn in the course of
events that America has not been
called on for some sort of protest or
expression Of judgment?
And, so those Of ia who are
charged with the responsibility Of az
fairs have realized very intensely that