The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-03-07
VOWED, whether we would have it 81

NdhS Oh tPat account. we shall be the
more American if we but remain true
&c ne principles in which we have
oeen bred. They are not the princi-
pies OF a province or of a single CONT
nent. We have known and boosted all
along that they We're the principles of
liberated mankind.
sets Forth American Principles.
These, therefore, are the things we
shall stand for, whether in war or in
peace:
That all nations are equally inter
ested in the peace of the world and in
the political stability of free peoples,
and equally responsible for their main
| tenance.
That the essential principle of peace
is the actual equality of nations in all
matters of right or privilege.
mat peace cannot securely or just
~ rest upon an armed balance of pow
er.
That governments derive all their
just powers from the consent of the
governed and that no other powers
should be supported by the common
thought, purpose or power of the fam
lily of nations.
THAT the seas should be equally
tree and safe for the use of all peo-
pies, under rules set up by common
agreement and consent, and that, so
tar as practicable, they should be ac-
cesslble to all upon equal terms.
For Limitation of Armament.
That national ornaments should be
limited to the necessities of national
order and domestic safety.
THAT the community of interest and
of power upon which peace must
henceforth depend imposes upon each
nation the duty of seeing to it that all
influences proceeding from it's own citi-
zenS meant to encourage or assist revO-
luton in other states should be sternly
and effectually suppressed and pre-
vented.
Il need not argue these principles to
you, my fellow countrymen; they are
our own, part and parcel of your
own thinking and your own motive in
affairs. They spring up native among
US. Upon this platform of purpose and
of action we can stand together.
"We Must Stand Together"
And it is imperative that we should
stand together. We are being forged
into new unity amidst the fires that
now blaze throughout the world. In
their ardent heat we shall, in God
providence, let US hope, be purged of
faction and division, purified of the err
rant humors Of party and of private in
terest, and shall stand forth in the
days to come with q new dignity of
national pride and spirit. Let each
man see to it that the dedication is in
his own heart, the high purpose of the
nation in his own mind, ruler of his
own will and desire.
Il stand here and have taken the
high and solemn oath to which you
have been audience because the people
Of the United States have chosen me
for this august delegation of power and
have by their gracious judgment
named me their leader in affairs. /
know now what the task means. I
realize to the full the responsibility
which it involves.
Counts Upon Unity of America.
II pray God [ may be given the wis
dom and the prudence to do my duty in
the true spirit of this great people. I
as they sustain and guide me by their
confidence and their counsel. The thing
[ shall count upon, the thing without
which neitherI counsel nor action will
avail, is the unity of America-an
America united in feeling, in purpose
and in vision of duty, of opportunity
and of service. We are to beware of
all men who would turn the tasks and
the necessities of the nation to their
own private profit or use them for the
building up of private power; beware
that no faction or disloyal intrigue
break the harmony or embarrass the
spirit of our people; beware that our
government be kept pure and incorrupt
in all it's parts. United alike in the con-
ception Of our duty and in the high re-
solve to perform it in the face of all
men, let US dedicate ourselves to the
great task to which we must set our
hand.
"For myself l beg your tolerance, in
your countenance and your united aid
The shadows that now lie dark upon
our path will soon be dispelled and we
shall walk with the light all about us
if we are but true to ourselves--to our
selves as we have wished to be known
in the counsels of the world and in the
thought of all those who love liberty