The Natchitoches enterprise., 1917-03-08

have known and boosted all along that
they were the principles of liberated
mankind. 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;
"That peace cannot securely or justly
rest upon an armed balance of power;
"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 free
and safe for the use of all peoples,
under rules set up by common agree
ment and consent, and that, so far as
practicable, they should be accessible
to all upon equal terms;
'"That national ornaments would be
limited to the necessities of national
order and domestic safety;
'That the community of interest and
of power upon which peace must hence
forth depend imposes upon each nation
the duty of seeing to it that all inf1u-
ences proceeding from it's own citizens
meant to encourage or assist revolution
in other states should be sternly and
effectually suppressed and prevented.
Il need not argue these principles to
you. my fellow countrYmen; they are
your own, part and parcel of your own
thinking and your own motive in affairs.
They spring up native amongst US.
Upon the platform of purpose and of
action we stand together.
"And it is imperative that we should
stand together. We are being forced
into new unity amidst the fires that
now blaze throughout the world. In
their ardent heat we shall, in Gods
providence, let US hope, be purged of
faction and division, purified of the err
rand humors of party and of private
interest, and shall stand forth in the
days to come with a new dignity of ma
tional pride and spirit. Let each man
see to it that the dedication is in his
own heart, the high purpose of the ma
will and desire.
81 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.
Il know now what the tasks means.
/ realize to the full the responsibility
which it involves. pray God l may be
given the wisdom and the prudence to
do my duty in the true spirit of this
great people. am their servant and
can stand only as they sustain and
guide me by their confidence and their
counsel.
"The thing I shall count upon, the
thing without which neither counsel nor
action will avail, is the unity of Amer
ica-an America united in feeling, in
purpose and in vision of duty, of oppor-
tunity and of service. We are to be-
ware 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 powers
beware that no faction or disloyal in
trigue break the harmony OF embarrass
the spirit of our people; beware that
our government be kept pure and in
corrupt in all its parts.
Omitted alike in the conception of
our duty and in the high resolve to per-
form it in the. face of all men, let US
dedicate ourselves to the great task to
which we must set our hand. For my
self / beg your tolerance and your
united aid. The shadows that now lie
upon our path will soon be dispelled and
we shall walk with the light all about
us if we but be true to ourselves to
ourselves as we have wished to be
known in the counsels of the world and
in the thought Of all those who love
liberty and justice and right.