Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-31
run ext of Presidents Speech at Cleveland;
Warning of Great Dangers Confronting Nation

solemnly you can't afford to postpone
this thing. I do not know what single
day may bring forth
Reset with Dangers.
II do not wish to leave YOU with the
impression that | am thinking OF some
particular danger / merely want to leave
YOU with this solemn impression that
know that we are daily treading amidst
the most intricate dangers, and that the
dangers that we are treading amongst
are not Of our making and are not
under our control; and that no man In
the United States knows what single
week or a single day or a single hour
may hrlng forth These are solemn
things to say TO you, but | would be un-
worthy OF my office II l did not come
out and tell you with absolute frankness
Just exactly what understand the sit
uation to be.
II do not wish to hurry the congress
OF the United States. These things are
too important to be put through without
very thorough sitting and debate and
am not In the least jealous of any OF
the searching processes of discussion.
! That is what free people are for to un-
derstand what they are about and TO do
what they wish to do only IL they under
stand what they are about. But 1t is inn
possible to discuss the details of plans
in great bodies, unorganized bodies OF
men, like this audience, for example. All
that | can do in this presence Is to tell
you what | know of the necessities of the
case, and to ask you to stand back of the
executive authorities of the United
States urging upon those who make our
laws as early and effective action as
possible,
America NOt Afraid.
America is not afraid OF anybody. I
know that express your feeling and the
feeling of all our fellow citizens when l
say that the only thing I am afraid of 10
not being ready to perform my duty.
am afraid of the danger OF shame; l am
afraid of the danger of inadequacy; |
am afraid of the danger of not being able
TO express the great character of this
country with tremendous might and eff
fectiveness whenever we are called upon
to act in the field of the world
affairs for II is character we are
going to express not power merely.
THE United States is not in love with
the aggressive use of powers. 1t de-
spises aggressive use of power. There
is not foot of territory belonging to
any other nation which this nation covets
or desires. There is not a privilege which
we ourselves enjoy which we would
dream of denying any other nation in
the world. If there is one thing that the
! American people love and believe in
more than another, 1t is peace, and all
! the handsome things that belong TO
/ peace.
| 81 hope that you will bear me out in
saying that | have proved that I am a
partisan of peace; and I would be
ashamed to be belligerent and impatient
I when the fortunes of my whole country
and the happiness of all my fellowmen
were involved. But | know that peace
! is not always within the choice OF the
nation, and want to remind-and remind
you very solemnly-of the double obliga-
ton you have laid upon me. l know
you have laid it upon me. because I am
constantly reminded of II In conversation.
by letter, in editorials, by means of every
voice that writes me out of the body of
the nation. You have laid upon me this
double obligation; We are relying upon
you. Mr. President. to keep us out of
this war, but we ara relying upon you,