The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-05
THE BRATTLEBORo REroRNER, MONDAY MARCH 1917
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Continued from Page 1.)

and we shall do them as time and oppor-
tunity serve.
But we realize that the greatest thing
that remains TO be done must be done
with the whole world for IA stage and in
cooperation with the wide and universal
forces of mankind And we are making
our spirits ready for those things They
will follow in the immediate wake of the
war itself and will set civilization M
again. We are provincial no longer. The
tragical events of the 30 months of vital
turmoil through which we have lust
passed have made us citizens or the
world. There can be no turning back
Our own fortunes as nation are in
VOWED, whether we would have il 50 or
not, and yet we are not the less Amer
leans OH that account We shall be the
more Americans if We but remain true to
the principles in which we have been
bred. They are not the principles Of Il
province or OF single continent We
have shown and boasted all along tina
they were the principles OF a liberated
mankind.
These, therefore, are the things we
shall stand for whether in war or in
peace. That all nations are equally in
terestcd in the peace Of the world and in
the political SATELLITES of free peoples
and equally responsible for their mainte.
nance; that the essential principle Of
peace Is the actual equality of nations
IN all matters of right or privilege; that
peace cannot securely or Justly rest upon
an armed balance of power; that govern
ments derive all their just powers from
the consent Of the governed and that no
other powers should be supported bv the
common thought, purpose or power Of
the family of nations; that the seas
should be equally free and safe for the
use Of all peoples under rules set up BY
common agreement and consent and that
So far a. practicable they should be ac-
cessible TO all upon equal terms; that
national armament should be limited 10
the necessities OF national order and do
nestle safety; that the community of
interest and of power upon which peace
must hcuceforth depend imposes upon
each nation the duty of seeing 10 it that
all influences proceeding from its own
citizens means To encourage or assist
revolution in other states should be-
.ternly and cifectually suppressed and
prevented.
II need not argue these principles 10
YOU my fellow countrvmen. they are
your own part and parcel OF your own
thinking and your own motives in affairs.
!hcy spring up native among u Upon
this a. platform of purpose and of ac
ton We can stand together and il i, i'm
perativc that we should stand together.
We are being forged into new unity
amidst the fires that now blaze through
ont the world. In their ardent heat we
shall in God, providence. let Us hope, be
purgcd Of faction and division, purified
OF the crrant hunoro Of parties and Of
private interest, and shall stand forth
IN the days to come with now dignity
Of national pride and spirit
Let each man see to il that the tedi
cation Is in his own heart; the high pur.
pose Of the nation in his own mind ruler
of his own will and desire
J. stand here and have taken the high
aud solemn oath to which YOU have been
audience because tie people Of The Unit
cd states have chosen me for this august
delegation of power and have by their
greatest Judgment named me their lead
T On IN affairs. | know now what the task
means. realize TO the full the responsi-
bility which il involves, | pray God
: may be given the wisdom and the pru-
dencc TO do my duty in the true spirit Of
B 'ILl0 Elfdl ptbplt. am lDelr servant
and can succeed only a. they sustain and
guide me by their confidence and their
counsel
The thing ] shall count upon. the
thing without which neither counsel nor
action viii avail is the unity Of America
and America united in feeling, in purpose
and in its vision of duty of opportunity
and of service
we are TO beware OF all men who
would turn the task and the necessities
Of the nation to their own private profit
or use them for the building IN Of pri.
vate powers; beware that no faction nor
disloyal intrigue break the harmony or
embarrass the spirit OF our people; be
ware that our government be kept pure
and ncorrupt in all its affairs; united
ailkc IN the conception of our duty and
~ the high resolve to perform it in the
lace Of all men. Let us dedicate our
selves 10 the great task to which we
must now set our hand For myself |
\ beg Your tolerance, YOUR countenance
aud your united aid The shadows that
now lie dark upon our path will soon
be dlSpellcd and we shall walk with
the light all about us if we be but true
TO ourselves, To ourselye, as We have
wished 10 be known in the councils of
the world and in the thought of all
those who love liberty and Justice and
Z In me- IA.