The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-02-26
71PRESIDENT WILSON'S ADDRESS
Al ASKING AN EARNED NEUTRALITY

maintain, and for which there is
abundant American precedent.
Seeking Peace
ut Is devoutly to be hoped that
II will not be necessary to put
armed force anywhere into action.
The American people do not
desire 1t, and our desire is not
different from theirs. | am sure
that they will understand the
spirit it which I am now acting,
the purpose | hold nearest my
heart and would wish to exhibit
in everything ! do.
~ am anxious that the
people of the nations at war
also should understand and
not mistrust us. The hope
that 1 need give no further
proofs and assurances than
have already given through
out nearly three years Of anx-
ious patience that ] am the
friend of peace and mean 10
preserve it for America as
long as I am able.
az am not proposing or contem-
plating war or any steps That
need lead to it. l merely request
that you will accord me by your
own vote and definite bestowal
the means and the authority TO
safeguard in practice the right OF
great people who are at peace
and who are DESTROYS of exercls-
ing none but the rights or peace
to follow the pursuits OF peace III
ouietness and good will-rights
recognized time out of mind by
all the civilized nations of the
world. No course of my choos-
ing or of theirs will lead to war.
War can come only by the willful
acts and aggressions of others.
Cannot BE Explicit.
"You will understand why l
can make no definite proposals or
forecasts of action now and must
ask for your supporting authority
in the most general terms. The
form in which action may become
necessary cannot yet be foreseen.
81 believe that the people Will
be willing to trust me to act with
restraint, with prudence and IN
the true spirit of amity and GOOD
faith that they themselves dls-
played through these trying
months: and it is in that belief
that | request that you Will au-
thorize me to supply our mer-
chant ships with defensive arms,
if that becomes necessary ana
with the means of using them,
and to employ all other instru-
mentalities or methods that may
he necessary and adequate to pro-
feet our ships and our people IN
their legitimate and peaceiul per-
suits on the high seas. 80,
at request also that you VIII
grant me at the same time, along
with the powers | ask, a sutficient
credit to enable me to proVlas
adequate means of protection
where they are lacking, including
ADEQUATE insurance against the
present war risks.
AZ have spoken of our commerce
and of the legitimate erranos Oh
our people on the seas, but you
will not be misled as to my main
thought, the thought the lies be-
meth these phrases and gives them
dignity and weight.
Why We Stand Firm.
at is not of material interests
merely that we are thinking. 1t
is rather of fundamental human
rights. chief of all the right OF lire
itself.
II am thinking, not only OF the
rights of Americans to go ana
come about their proper business
bv way of the sea, but also OF
something much deeper, much
more fundamental than that.
"I am thinking of those rights
of humanity without which there
is no civilization.
"My theme is of the great prin-
ciples of compassion and protec-
ton which mankind has sought to
throw about human lives, the lives
of non-combatants, the lives OF
men, who are peacefully at work
keeping the industrial processes OF
the world quick and vital, the lives
of women and children and OF
those who supply the labor which
ministers to their sustenance.
1--WE are speaking of no selfish
material rights, but of rights
which our hearts support and
whose foundation is that righteous
passion for justice upon which all
law, all structures alike OF family,
of state and of mankind must rest.
as upon the ultimate base of our
existence and our liberty. l can
not imagine any man with Ameri-
can principles in his heart hesitat-
ing to defend these things