Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1917-03-08
WILSON'S SECOND INAUGURAL
Scene Of PATRIOTISM marked
BY HOPE 0E PEACE With HONOR
F0reign-Born Americans Join in Great Popular
Tribute to Nations Executive; Mrs. Wilson
Prominent in Ceremonies
MIGHTY CHORUS UNITES
IN SINGING OF "AMERICA"
Assures World that America Is Not Anxious To
Get Into Struggle But Will Not Stand For
Abridgement of Rights

Washington, March 6.-WoodroW
Wilson, with the major part of the
world at war and America poised on
its verge, ,consecrated his second in
auguration as President of the Uni
ted States yesterday with = last
message Of hope for peace.
Standing in the shadows Of the
nations capitol with his face turned
toward the eastern war-seared skies,
the President renewed his oath Of al
legiance to the Constitution, praying
to God that he might be given wis
dom and prudence to do his duty in
the true spirit of the American peo-
pie.
Pictures Wrongs of America
While trumpets blared and martial
accoutrements ratified prophetically
about him the President pictured the
deep wrongs the United States pa
tiently had borne in the conflict Of
other peoples without wishing to
wrong or injure in return.
Asserting that the tragedies of an
other continent had removed pro-
vincialism and made Americans citi-
zens of the world, and that the prin-
ciples of this republic should be ap-
piled to a liberation of mankind, he
resolutely voiced determination that
America, standing "firm in armed
neutrality" must demonstrate her
claim to a "minimum of right and
freedom of action" in world affairs.
"May Be Drawn On"
Peculiar interest and significance,
in the light of his rebuke to senators
who prevented the 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:
"We may even be drawn on, by
circumstances, not by our own pur-
pose or desire, to more active as
sertion of our rights as we see them
and a more immediate association
with the great struggle itself. But
nothing will alter our thought or our
purpose. We desire neither con-
quest nor advantage. We wish moth
ing that can be had only at the cost
Of another people. We have profess
ed unselfish purpose and we covet
the opportunity to prove that our
professions are sincere"
Making no attempt to review the
legislative record of the last four
years, the President said that this
was no time for retrospect. The time
was one to speak of thoughts and
purposes for the immediate future.
Cannot Remain Independent
To be Indifferent to the influence
of the war upon America, or indepen-
dent of it, he said. was impossible.
and he was firm in the conviction
that the part this country wished to
play in the vital turmoil was the
part of "those who mean to vindi-
cate and, fortifv peace"
These were the dominant thoughts
of the President as he addressed the
cheering multitude in the broad plaza
of the Capitol grounds. In the assem-
blage before him American citizens
drawn from all nations had sung
"America" with highly voice while
waiting for his appearance on the in
auoural 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. /
1--WE are American citizens" fared
from banners borne by once alien
hands. 1--WE are ready to fight and
die for America" was the stirring
message blazing from standard
waving over the heads of new Amer
ican citizens from Poland.
"America First"
Men Of MANY foreign ancestries
held to the breeze as they marched
rast the chief executive other in
sigma of ratriotjc Americanism. and
the words "America first" emblazon-
ing from countless streamers arous-
Il the throngs along Washin oton's
broad thorouohfares to continual out
bursts Of patriotic ferver.
From the time the President left
the White House until his return his
~eturn his course was trlumphal.
Sharino with him the plaudfts was
Mrs. Wilson, who accomoanied him
to the Capitol. stood bv his side on
the inaupursl stand as Chief Justice
White administered the oath Of office.
pnd ic;ned with him in acknowledging
the tributes and acclaim on the pro-
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