Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-08

are provinciais no longer. The trasical
evonts of the 50 months OF vital turmoil
through which we have just psssco havo
made us citizens Of the world. There
can be no turning back. Our own for
tunos as a nation are involved. whether
we would have 1t so or not.
And yet ~c arc not tho less Americans
on that account. We shall be the moro
principles In which wo have been bred:
These therefore, are tho things We shall
stnnd for. whether In war or m peace
That all nations are equally interested
political stability Of free peoples and
equally responsible for their maintenance.
That the essential principle Of peace =
the actual equality Of nations In All mat
tors Of right or privilege.
That peace cannot securely or 3unsiy
rest upon N armed balance Of power:
That governments derive all their just
powers from the consent Of the sovesned
and that no other power should be sup
poroed by tho common thought, purpose
or power Of the family Of nations.
That the seas should b eayai'y ne
rules set up by ccnimon agreement ana
consent and that. 20, far a. practicable.
thoy should be accessible to all upon
That national srmamsnts should Be
limited to the necessities OF national
order and domestic safety.
That the community Of interests anu
Of power upoo which peace must thence
forth depsnd imposes upon each nation
the duty Of seeing to 1t that an tndu-
encss proceeding from IN own citiscns.
meant TO encourage or assist revolution
cffcctually suppressed and prevented.
1 need not argue those principles TO
you, my fellow countrymen, they arc
your own. part and parcel Of your own
thinking and your own motive in aRatrs.
They spring UP native among us Upon
this as a platform Of purpose and OF
action we can stand together.
And Il IL imperative that We should
stand together. We are being forged into
a new unity amid the fires that now blaze
through the world. In their ardent heat
we shall in Gods Providence. let US hope:
be purged Of faction and division, purified
Of the errant humors Of party and of
private interests. and shall stand forth
In the days to come with new dignity
OF national pride and IS spirit .1t.n -. ,,-,
and solemn oath to which you have been
Guidance because the people Of the
United States have chosen me for this
their gracious Judgment made mo their
leader IN affairs. I know now what tho
task means. I realize to the full the re-
sponsibtiity which It involves. I pray
God I may BE- given tho wisdom and the
prudence to do my duty in the true spirit
Of this great people. I am their servant
and can succeed only as they sustain and
guide me BY their coincidence and their
the thing without which neither counsel
or action viii prevail IL the unity Of
Amcrica-an America united in feeling,
in purpose and in its visions OF duty. Of
opportunity and 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 tho building UP Of pri-
vAte power: beware that no faction or
disioyal intrigue break the harmony or
embarraas the spirit Of our people; be-
ware that our government be kept pure
and incorrupt IN all its parts. United
alike in the conception Of our duty and
in the high resolve to perform 1t In tho
face Of all men. Let US dedicate our
selves to the great task 70 which We
must now set our hand. For myself I
q your tolerance, your countenance and
your united aid. The shadows shat now
lie dark upon our path VIII soon be dis
PEELED and we shall walk with the light
all about rs II We he but true to our
selves - we have wished to be known
In the eounsels OF the world and in the
thought Of all those VINO love liberty and
justice and the right exalted.