Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-14
Wilson Tells Graduates of
West Point That Country
Must Fight Only for Just
Principles,
URGES PREPAREDNESS
FOR HIGH PURPOSES
Chief Executive Declares DAN
ger of MiIitafiSm Is NegIigi-
Bile While CoIumbia'S Spirit
Remains True 10 Itself.

rsv sosr'rs JOURNAL SPECIAL ls.s,o wIssI


West Point, n. Y, June 13.-Presi-
dent Wilson. making his first address
since the presidential campaign began,
today discussed preparedness, mill
tarism Americanism, the causes Of
the war in Europe, peace, the Monroe
doctrine divided allegiance and the
ideals Of America. He declared it Is
the present imperative duty of the
United States to be prepared adding
mankind is going to know that when
America speaks she means what she
says
The president said the United States
should not be a clustering nation,
nation with "a chip on its shoulder"
but calm nation which will withhold
its hands as long as possible and
strike only for victory.
America First.
Shaking his finger emphatically the
president told the graduates of the
military academy and a large audi
ence that nobody who does not put
America first can be tolerated. lie
added, however. that true Americans
should set good example.
The president declared the present
war did not come by accident, but
that ii had to come. The United
States wants nothing from Europe, he
said, and there is nothing she wants
which she must get by war He sound
ed a warning that no man can tell
what the next day will bring forth in
the worlds events.
The word "Amercanism' was used
dav--hv the president Tor the ffrst
time in recent addresses. He warned
the graduates against militarism.
Was Frequently Applauded.
The presidents speech was fire.
Quently interrupted by applause. The
text follows:
Il look upon this body of men who
are graduating today with a peculiar
interest. feel like congratulating
them that they are living in a day not
only so interesting because fraught
with change, but also because so re-
sponsible. Days of responsibility are
the only days that count in time, be- !
test of quality. They are the only !
days when manhood and purpose is |
tried out as If by fire.
4 need not tell you gentlemen that
you are not like an ordinary gradu-
atlng class of one of our universities. .
The men in those classes look for !
ward to life which they are to lead !
after graduating with great many |
questions in their mind. Most of /
them do not know exactly what their ,
lives are going to develop into. Some
OF them do not know what occupations !
they are going to follow. All of them
are conjecturing what will be the line
Of duty and advancement and the ul-
innate goal of success for them.
No Uncertainty.
There is no conjecture for you.
you have enlisted in something that
ooes not stop when you leave the
academy for you then only begin to
realize ii, which then only begins to
he filled with the full richness of its
meaning, and you can look forward
with absolute certainty to the sort
of thing that you will be obliged 10 do.
Ihls has always been true of grad
ua'ng classes at West Point but the
certainty that some of the older
''asses used to look forward 10 was a
very duh certainty. Some of the old
uavs In the army | fancy were not
very interesting days. Sometimes
men Ike the present chief of staff,
ior example, could fill their lives with
.ne interest Of really knowing and
understanding the Indians of the
ses'ern plains. knowing what was go
n's on inside of their minds and be-
lug able to be the intermediary be-
'Neeh them and those who dealt with
uen by speaking their sign language.
souid enrich their lives. but the ord
~a'y life of an ordinary officer at a
"es'ern post could not have been very
ss'i.ihs and | think with admiration
~ y. 'hose duh years through which Of
a'ers who had not a great deal to do
.-elsted, nevertheless, upon being ef-