Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-02

DeS NolneS, Iowa, Feb. 1.-PreSident Wilson, in addressing the largest au- dience of his present trip, in which he Is advocating preparedness, here to- night asked this question: DO you want the situation to be such that all the president can do is protest ?"
 Why to ask that question is to answer it," he said
 Whenever international law is vii plated by one or the other belliger- ents," the president said, "America was called upon :. register voice of pro test, of insistence.'
 Do you want the situation to be such that all the president can do IS to write messages and utter words ternational law, which are in daily danger of occurring, should touch the very honor of the United States, would you wish to nothing about it? Do you wish to have all the world say that the flag of the United States can be stained with impunity? Why, to ask the question is to answer it. T know there is not a man or wo- man within the hearing of my voice who would wish peace at the expense Of the honor of the United States"
 Spoke Slowly and GraveIy.
 The presidents address was punctu- ated with thunderous applause. He spoke slowly and gravely. with em- phatic gestures to enforce his words. His declaration that the United States wanted peace drew a quick response and the assertion that the elf-respect of the nation must be preserved elicit cd another great demonstration A throng that filled every seat in the Coliseum cheered to the echo. The president declared he was try ing to weigh carefully every word he said. He reiterated that he hNd been 6 <ar1 1rr rr1tar. A1 l.. of war and also to uphold its hon. or.
 And many night when it has seemed impossible for me to sleep" he said. because of the apparently mex tricable difficulties into which our in ternatioral relations were drifting l have said to myself T wonder if the people of the United States fully know what that mandate means to me- And then sleep has come; because I knew that there was rot a community in America that would not stand behind me in maintaining the honor of the United States.
 Difficulties Encountered.
 "The difficulties of keeping America at peace during this titanic struggle across the sea cannot be disclosed now; perhaps it never can be dis closed. How anxious and how diffi- cult this task has been. But my heart
 
 single burden that has been placed upon me with that end in view For I know that not only my own heart but the heart of all America was in the cause of peace"
 There are actually men in America who are preaching war, the president declared, men who want the Unit ed States to have entangling alliances 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 these men did not know the circumstances of the world.
 America cannot be an ostrich with its 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 set tle questions which cause war. His declaration that he had found the peo- pie of the middle west for prepared ness drew long applause.
 Some one who does not know our fellow. citizens as well as he ought to know them, told me there was a cer- tain degree of indifference and legarthy in the middle west, with re- gard to the defense of the nation" he declared. q said I did not believe it DuI was gong to out 10 see. l have seen what I expected to see-great bodies of serious men and women coming together to show their interest in the object of my visit'
 Closed With Tribute to Flag.
 The president closed with a tribute to the American flag.
 As I look at that flag" he said, 'I seem to see many characters upon it which are not visible to the physical eye. There seem to move ghostly vii sions of devoted men, looking to that flag though only of liberty of the l rights of mankind, of the mission of i America to show the way to the world 1 for the realization 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 a | true American-would seem to have | on it that stain of red, which means i 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 mel and | to hallow their memories that blue | space of the sky in which swim those | stars which exemplify for us the glori- ous galaxy of the states of the Union, which stand together to vindicate the | rights of mankind" 15,ooo PERSONS GREET