Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-02

lures to enforce his words. His declaEa-
ton that the United States wanted peace
drew quick response, and his assertion
that the self-respect of the nation must
be preserved elected another great DEM
onstration. A throng that filled every
seat in the Coliseum cheered him to the
echo.
Weighing Words
The President declared that he was
trying to weigh carefully every word
he said He reiterated that he had
been daily charged to keep the country
out Of war and also to protect its
honor. And many a night when it
has seemed impossible for me to
Sleep" he said, because Of the appar-
entity inextricable difficulties into
which our international relations are
drifting. 1 have said to myself, I won
der II the people of the United States
fully know what that mandate means
to them And then sleep has come;
because 1 knew that there was not
community in America that would not
stand behind me in maintaining the
honor Of the United States.
The difficulty of keeping America
at peace during this titanic struggle
across the sea cannot be disclosed
now, perhaps 1t never can be disclos-
ed. How anxious and how difficult
this task has been, But my heart has
been in it. l have not grudged a
single burden that has been placed
upon me with that end in view. For
know that not only my own heart.
but the heart Of all Americas was in
the cause of peace"
The Extremists
There are actually men in America
who are preaching war, the Presi-
dent declared; men who want the
United States to have entangling ALI
ances abroad He said he did not
think they spoke the voice Of America
which he declared to be for peace.
He added that others go further
than he in advocating peace. They
preach the doctrine of peace at any
price" he added, while men in the
audience cried Never: never" He
said the men did not know the cir
cums,ances Of the world.
America cannot be an ostrich with
it's head in the sand" he said.
The President declared he hoped if this
war had no other result it would create
an international tribunal to settle ques-
tons which cause war His declaration
that he had found the people of the Mid
die West for preparedness drew long APP
piause.
Someone who does not know sour fell
bo n
them told me there was a certain degree
of Indifference and lethargy in the Middle
West with regard to the defence of the
nation" he declared. Il said ! didn't
believe it. but was going out to see.
have seen what ! expected to see-great
bodies OF serious men and women COM
ing together to show their interest in the
object of my visit
The President closed with a tribute to
the American flag.
las l look at that flag he said. Il
seem to see many characters upon it
which are not visible to the physical eye
There seem to move ghostly visions of de-
voted men who, looking to that flag,
thought only of liberty, of the rights of
mankind of the mission of America to
show the way to the world for the real
iZation of those rights. And every grave
and every brave man in the country
would seem to have upon it the colors
of the flag, if he were true American
would seem to have on 1t that stain OF
red, which means the true pulse Of blood:
that patch of pure white, Which means
the peace Of the soul. And then there
seems to rise over the graves of those
men and to hallow their memories that
blue space of the sky in which swim
those stars which exemplify for us the
glorious galaxy Of the states of the
Union. which stand together to vindicate
the rights of mankind"