The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-19
Text of President Wilson'S Speech
Metropolitan

W1LS0n last ntght at the Metr0p0ttt0n opera
enough-I am old enough-to remember men who
how they were regarded by their fellow citissns That
was war to save one country-this 10 a war to save
the world.
Your relation to the Red Cross is one Of the rela-
tions which will relieve you Of the stigma You can't
give anything to the Government Of the United States
1t won't accept It, There IL a law Of Congress against
accepting services without pay. The only thing
that the Government will accept s loan. and duties
performed but 1t great deal better to give than
to lend to pay. and great channel for giving
Is the American Red Cross.
No Credit in Lending.
Down in your hearts you can't take very salts
Government Of the United States because the interest
which you draw will burn your pockets:,h is CONNER
cia transacton and some men have dared to cav
at the rate Of interest
But when you give, something Of your heart, some-
thing Of SOUL something Of yourself with the
sf particularly when Is given in such form that 1t
never can como back by Of direct beneht your
SELF You know there Is the old cynical definition Of
gratitude the lively expectation Of
tLaughter] Well. there Is expectation Of favors
come In this kind Of giving. These things bestowed
In order that the world may be hter place in
that men be succored that homes may restored
that suffering may be relieved the face of the
earth may have tho blight Of destruction taken away
from it, and that wherever force there shall 60
mercy and hepfulness
And when you give give absolutely all that vou ran
spare and don't consider yourself liberal in the giving
tLAughterl you give with selfadulation you
giving dt you are giving TO your own vanity; but
II you give until hurts then your heart blood goes
into II.
Hits at Germany.
And think what have here! We call it the Amer.
.can Red Cross but IT Is merely branch of great
international organization. which only recognized
by the statutes Of each Of the civilized
the world. but It is recognized by international
men and treaty the recognized and accepted instru
mentality Of mercy and succor One Of the deepest
stains that rests the reputation Of the German
army is that they have not respected Red Cross
That to the OF the
respected the nsrumentaiity they themselves partc
pated in setting as the thing which man to
touch because II was the expression Of common hu-
manity. We are members. by being members OF the
American Red Cross Of great fraternity and comrade-
ship which extends all the world. and this cross
which these ladies bore to-day Is an emblem Of Chris
.ianity itself.
It nls my Imagination think Of the all
this country who are busy Tonight and busy
night and day doing the work OF the Red Cross
busy with great eaGerness to fnd out the most
yiceabe thing to do busy with forgetuness OF all the
old frvoes Of their social relationships ready to cur
tail the duties of the household In order that they may
contribute this work that ALL their hearts
engaged In. and in doing which their hearts become
acquainted with each other
Draws People Tosether
When you think Of this you realize how the people
OF the United States being drawn together into
family whose heart being used for the
service only soldiers for the service of
civilians where they suffer and lost in maze Of
dstresses and distractions.
You have then this noble picture OF justice and
mercy the two servants OF liberty
Only where free do they think the thoughts
Of comradeshp: only where they free do they think
the thoughts OF sympathy: only where they free
they mutually helpful only where they free do
they realize their dependence upon another. and
their comradeshp In a common interest and common
necessity.
l heard story the other day that ridiculous.
but it is worth repeating because contains the
OF truth. An Indian enlisted in the army. He
turred to the reservation frlough. He asked
what he thought of It, He said, mo much good: too
much salute; not much shoot" tIaugher.l Then he
was asked. Are you going back" Yes" We'll do
you know what you fighting for?" Yes know
fight make whole damn world Democratic party"
Laughter and applause
Partly Rieht
lie had evidently misunderstood innocent
sentence OF my own. tI.aughterl But after all. AL
though there Is party purpose In it, he got II right
far the word party to make the whole world
democratic the OF community Of interest and
OF purpose and II ladies and gentlemen could read
Of the touching dispatches which come through
official channels for through those channels
voices OF humanity that infinitely pathetic
II you could catch Of those voices that speak
the utter longing oppressed helpless peoples all
over the world hear something like the Battle Hymn
the Republic. hear the feet Of the great
Liberty going them free set their minds
lives free. set their children free,
know into the heart OF those who trying
to contribute the brains power they this
great enterprise of Liberty.
summon you to the comra6eshp, summon you In
this week to how much and how sincerely and
how unanimously you sustain the heart Of the world
(Cireat appausel