New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-25
Appeals to All Americans
to Stand with the
President
Asserts Germany
Must Learn Lesson
Publishers at Associated
Press Dinner Renew
Allegiance


Of The Associated Press yesterday
heard Joseph H. Choate, Nestor of the
American Bar, eloquently extol Presi-
dent Wilson as the leader Of a united
nation and appeal for the unquestion-
ing obedience Of every American to his
commands.
"He is entitled" said he, "aJ every
step to the applause and support of
every American citizen, man, woman
and child. and believe he has it."
The diners interrupted Mr.. Choate
with applause at this point, as they
hid frequently. They applauded with
vigor his reference to the compulsory
military service bill. which 1--WE are
assured will pass by the vote Of both
houses of Congress on Friday; his in
sistencc that a voluntary force of 90
600 or 10000 men be sent abroad as
soon as possible to place the Stars and
Stripes beside the Union Jack and the
tricolor. and his suggestion that we do
not withdraw from the league OF Al
lied nations Immediately with the ter
mination Of war. but continue in 1t for
q while. at least. to see whether Ger
many has really learned TO keep her
word"
All Now with President
some Of us in the past have crlti-
cised the President" he went on.
"Some of us had long hesitated and
doubted; some of us thought that
'watchful waiting would never cease.
But now VIC see what the President
was waiting for and how wisely he
waited. He was waiting to see how
fast and how far the American people
would keep pace with him and stand
up to any action that he proposed.
From the day the President APP
peared before Congress and made that
wonderful address of his-one OF the
greatest state papers in the affairs OF
the United States since the formation
Of the government from that moment
all doubt. all hesitation, all unwilling
ness was banished from the minds Of
all the people, and he is now our
chosen leader for this great contest
by no possibility can we have any
other or think of any other. And We
must uphold him through thick and
through thin from now until the end
Of the war"
lie thus touched on the question of
the censorship:
"Of course, there will have to be a
censorship, but 7 do not for minute
believe that there will be a gag law in
this country"
Mr.. Choate told his hearers that he
did not think they realized "how vast
the responsibility, how wonderful the
power" which had been Entrusted to
the President by the American people.
lie read excerpts from the declaration
Of war and :he Congressional resolu-
ton that followed il TO illustrate his
point And ne added: From that
moment Woodrow Wilson stands in
front Of these people just as Abraham
Lincoln stood before them for the four
years of the Civil War, and every man
and every woman OF us must rally to
his support and obey whatever he
orders
81 was afraid for a long time" said
the aged speaker. whose strong, clear
tones penetrated 30 :he furthest re-
cesses OF the Grand Ballrocm-T was
afraid for a long time that we should
not get into the war ar all. for / be-
lleved from the day OF the entrance of
the Germans into Belgium and their
trampling upon all human rights, their
breaking Of treaties and Of pledges,
that we ought TO have gone in then.
Led by Lincoln's Spirit
Then ! was afraid for a long time
that We might go into the war on some
narrower ground, because some OF
these U-boats had destroyed some Of
our ships, because a couple Of hun
bred American lives had been put 70
hazard and destroyed ample ground
and fully sufficient for any nation 20
enter into a war over. But there was
something higher and grander, il
seems. that we were waiting for. and il
has come 70 last believe that the
spirit Of Abraham Lincoln has led us
into this war"
Mr. Choate said he had found the key
to the action of the American people
ia Lincoln's Gettysburg address. from
which he quoted, especially the last
sentence that government of the peo-
pie. by the people and for the people
shall not perish from the earth"
"Now what do we have?" he asked.
IF Lincoln were here to-day his prayer
would be verified and glorited into the
prayer that all civilized nations shall
now have new birth of freedom and
that government of the people, by the
people and for the people shall not
perish from any portion of the earth.
"Now, I think it is not difficult TO
unders tand what this war is. 1t is a
war for the preservation Of free gov
eminent throughout the civilized world.
And believe that ! may include in that