The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-03-07

Nutioi - hNNcf anu Ills 'SeCOHu Np.
plaudcd rs They Return from Their
Second Inauguration. Wives Take
Prominent Part in the Ceremonies
Of the Day.
Washington, March Woodrow
Wilson, with the major part Of the
world at war and America poised on
its verge, consccratcd his second in
auguration as president of the United
States today with message of hope
for world freedom.
Standing in the shadow of the ma
tons capitol with his face turned to-
ward the eastern war-seared skies,
the president renewed his oath of al
legiancc to the constitution, praying
to God that he might be given wisdom
and prudence to do his duty in the
true spirit Of the American people.
While trumpets blarcd and martial
accroutcemcnts ratified propheticaily
about him, the president pictured the
deep wrongs the United States patient
ly had borne in the conflict Of other
peoples without wishing to wrong or
injnrc them in return. Asserting that
the tragedies of another continent
had removed provmcialism and made
Americas citizens Of the world and
that the principles Of this republic
should be applied to a liberation of
mankind. he rcsolutcly voiced de-
termination that America, standing
firm in armed neutrality" must dem
onstratc her claim to minimum Of
right and freedom of action" In world
affairs.
Peculiar interest and significance in
the light Of his rebuke last night to
senators who prevented passage Of the
armed neutrality bill were attached
to the presidents assertion on this
point. Even more interest and con-
Germ were aroused when he added:
1--WE may even be drawn on by cir
cumstanccs, not by our own purpose
or desire, to a more active assertion
Of our rights as we see them and
more immediate association with the
great struggle itself. But nothing will
alter our thought or our purpose. We
desire neither conquest nor advantage.
We wish nothing that can be had
only at the cost Of another people.
We have always professcd unscliish
purpose and VIC covct the opportunity
to prove that our professions are sin
core"
Making no attempt to review The
legislative record Of the last four
years the president said this was no
time for rctrospcction. The time was
one to speak Of thoughts and pur-
poses for the immediate future. To
he Indifferent to the influence Of the
war upon America. he said, was i'm
possible, and he was firm in the con-
viction that the part this country
wished to play in the vital turmoil
was the part of those "who mean to
vindicate and fortify peace"
These wero the dominant thoughts
of the president as he addressed the
cheering multitude in the broad plaza
OF the capitol grounds. In the as
semblage before him American citi-
zens Of all nativites had sung Amer
lea" with a mighty voice while wait
ing for his appearance on the in
augural stand. And in the procession
which followed him to the White
House and passed in review "a COM
posite and cosmopolitan people" gave
graphic evidence Of loyalty and pa
triotism.
I'VE arc American citizens" flared
from banners borne by oncc alien
hands. 1--WE are ready to fight and
die for America" was the stirring
messages blazing from standard
waving over the heads OF new Amer
lean citizens from Poland. Men OF
many foreign ancestrics held to the
breeze as they marched past the chief
executive other insignia OF patriotic
Amoricanism and the words america
First cmblazoned from countless
strcamcrs aroused the thrOngs along
Washington's broad thoroughfaro to
continual outbur5ts Of patriotic fcrvor.
From the time the president loft
the White House until his return
his course was t.iumphal. Sharing
the DlouditS with him was Mrs. VIII