New-York tribune., 1916-05-02
NATION UNITED,
WILSON ASSERTS
And Foreign Born Citizens
Will Support the Flag
with Cheers"

aShlngton, Way J. PRESIDENT VIII
son once more lifted his voice to-day in
a solemn warning TO any foreign enemy
that might imagine the United States
to be divided against itself He an
nounced that he never had had mo-
ment's doubt as 10 the faithfulness Of
the great mass Of foreign-born citizens
of the nation.
Young women Of the National Ser
vice School, 10 whom the Presidents
remarks were addressed, were thrilled
by the concluding paragraph of the ad-
dress, delivered in the quiet, prophetic
manner that has characterized recent
utterances of the President
God forbid that we should be drawn
into war;" Mr.. Wilson exclaimed. But
if we should be- America would seem
once more TO shake herself out Of a
dream and say, Did any man deem
that We were .sleeD? Did any man
deem that we had forgotten the tradi-
tions of America? Did any man dream
that he could tamper with the honor
and integrity Of the United States p
And in the great voice OF national en-
thusiasm which would be raised all
the world would stand once more
thrilled TO hear the voice OF the New
World asserting the standards OF JUS
tice and liberty
Speaks TO Women.
Il was the opening of the encsmp-
ment OF the National Service School,
which is the women's department OF
the Navy League, and the Presidents
address, carrying with il his official
sanction of the theory of military pre-
paredness for women as well as men,
possessed a peculiar significance.
The Presidents attitude, as in his
recent address before Congress, was
that he did not court war. but would
not evade il. He called attention 70
the far-reaching effects OF the pres
ent European conhagration and said
that no man could prophesy where 1t
would end. He foresaw as one Of its
good effects. great spiritual awaken
ing for America.
As for the attitude Of foreign born
citizens toward America in case Of
war Why" he exclaimed. they will
come with cheers. They will come
with a momentum which will make US
realize that America has once more
been cried awake cut of every sort OF
distemper and dream and distraction" "
Conditions Unprecedented.
at is with unaffected pleasure said
President Wilson, that | come 10 greet
you as you have assembled for the in
teresting things you are going TO do.
have always felt that there was very
much more inspiration In things
that were voluntarily done than in
things that were done under oiilcial di-
rection and by official summons. You
have volunteered TO come together with
out official suggestion in order to study
some things which, while they are char
acteristic Of the sort of comfort and
assistance which women have been ac-
customed TO offer, are, nevertheless, IN
this instance associated with very
great national conception and duty.
I'VE, of course, are living IN the
presence Of conditions which we cannot
vet assess, because they are unprece-
dented. The world never witnessed such
"A MdT - 10 INV AOHf AAeabb oAhaN'~
part Of the world except this part, which
we particularly love and would seek
TO safeguard, and the very foundations
of the ordinary life OF nations nave
been disturbed so deeply disturbed
that that no man can predict What the
final settlement will be.
"And il this war has done nothing
else il has at least done this: IL has
made America aware Of dangers which
most of US had deemed unreal, and has
made US aware that the danger Of our
own time is nothing less than the un-
settlement Of the foundations Of civ
ilization.
Civilization does not rest upon war.
It rests upon peace, 10 rests upon those
things which men achieve by coopers-
tiou and mutual interest in one an
other. Il dues not flourish in the soil
of hostility and antsgonism, and a
world war IL war in the presence OF
which civilization holds its breath snc
wonders il IL will itself survive.
"As we see these great issues joined
we on this side OF the water are done
this great service: we are reminded OF
our spiritual relations not only 10 TINS
great struggle, but particularly 20 TINS
great nation Of which we constitute
parts. and our spiritual relation 70 the
rest Of the world is determined by our
spiritual relation 70 America.
you have come together 20 be pre-
pared for any unusual duty which
America may call upon YOU TO perform,
but what has moved you to do this?
Your duty TO your country. But what
Is the foundation Of that duty? What
do YOU conceive America TO be- When
YOU come to the last searching analysis
we do not owe any duty except 20 those
things that We believe in, and the
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