Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-14
WILSON ADDRESSES
WEST POINT CADETS
President Discusses Preparedness,
Militarism, Monroe Doctrine and
Americanism.
10 DIVIDED ALLEGIANCE


Of the war in Europe, peace, the Mon
roe doctrine, divided allegiance and
the ideals of America. He declared il
is the present imperative duty OF the
United States to be prepared, adding
mankind Is going to know that when
America speaks it means what it
says"
General George w. Goethals, gov
ernor OF the Panama canal zone, was'
one Of the visitors here and expected
to confer with the president regard
ing his desire to retire. He considers
the canal finished.
Following the parade the president
walked to the battle monument where
canopy OF American flags had been
erected over the seat. As the presi-
dent spoke he faced up the historic
Hudson river. Mrs. Wilson, dressed
entirely in white and wearing bou-
quet Of purple orchids, sat facing the
president.
Following his address and a lunch
con with group Of officers, the presi-
dent motorcd around the grounds.
He planned to leave at 8 o'clock for
Washington.
America Must Come First.
Shaking his finger emphatically, the
president told the graduates OF the
military academy and large audi.
ence that nobody who does not put
America first can be tolerated. He
added, however, that true Americans
should set good example.
The president declared the present
war did not come by accident, but
that It had to come. The United
States wants nothing from Europe, he
said. and there is nothing II wants
which i must get by war. He
sounded warning that no man can
tell what the next day will bring
forth in worlds events.
The word Americanism was used
today. by the president for the first
time in recent addresses. He warned
the graduates against militarisni.
Not I clustering Nation.
The president said the United
States should not be a clustering ma
ton, nation with "chip on It's
shoulder" but . calm nation which
will withhold its hands as ioAR as
possible and strike only for victory.
The presidents address ran through
the entire list Of subjects discussed
by former Justice Hughes in his tele-
gram accepting the republican nomi-
nation and he declared the United
States Is ready to join with other ma
tons to see that the kind OF justice
i believes in Is given.
The presidents speech was fire.
quently interrupted by applause. The
text follows:
i look upon this body OF men who
are graduating today with peculiar
interest feel like congratulating
them that they are living in a day not.
only 20 interesting because fraught
with change, but also because so re-
sponsible. Days Of responsibility are
the only days that count In time, be-
cause they are the only day. shat give
test OF quality. They are che only
days when manhood and purpose Is
tried out IS il BY FIRE.
Il need not tell you, young gentle
men, that you are not like an ordinary
graduating class OF one OF our univcr-
sites. The mel, in those classes look
forward to the 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 oc-
equations they are going to follow
All Of them are conjecturing what
will be the line Of duty and advance
Inent and the ultimate goal Of success
for them.
There is no conjecture for you.
You have enlisted in something that
does not stop when you leave the
academy, for you then only begin to
realize It, which then only begins to
be 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 to do.
But IN your case there are many
extraordinary possibilities because,
gentlemen, no man can certainly tell
you what the immediate future Is GO
ing to be, either in the history Of
this country or in the history Of the
world. It Is not by accident that
the present great war came in Eu-
rope. Every element was there and
the contest had to come sooner or
later, and II is not going to be by
accident that the results are worked
out. but by purpose--by the purpose
Of the men who are strong enough
to have guiding minds and indomnit-
able wills when the time for deci.
sion and settlement come.
And the part that the United
States Is to play has this distinction
in 1t, that It Is to be in any event
a disinterested part. There IS moth.
ing the United States wants that il
has to get by war, but there are a
great many things that the United
States has to do. II has to see that
its life is not interfered with by any
body else who wants something.
Preparedness Imperative Duty.
These are the days when we arc
making preparation, when the thing
most commonly discussed around
every sort Of table, in every sort Of
circle, in the shops and in the streets,
is preparedness, and undoubtedly,
gentlemen, that is the present impcra.
tive duty of America to be prepared
But we ought to know what we are
preparing for. | remember hearing a
wise man say once that the old max.
i'm that everything comes to the man
who waits, Is all very we'll, provided
he knows what he is waiting for; and
preparedness might be very hazard,
Gus thing il we did not know what
we wanted to do with the force that