The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-07-11
FOUR MINUTE MESSAGE
The Presidents Fourth of July
Address to America.

The Republican has been furnished
for publication by Mr.. Gilmor S. Hamill.
chairman of the County Council of De-
Tense, the four minute message of
President Wilson which was delivered
to thousands of Americans on July 4th
by thirty-five thousand -Four Minute
Men," The message follows:
FOUR MINUTE MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT
WILSON.
You are met, my fellow citizens. to
commemorate the signing of that De-
claration of Independence which mark
ed the awakening of a new spirit in the
lives of nations. Since the birth of our
republic, we have seen this spirit grow.
We have heard the demand and watch
ed the struggle for self government
spread and triumph among many peo-
Piles. We have come to regard the
right to political liberty as the common
right of humankind. Year after wear.
within the security of our borders, we
have continued to rejoice in the peace
full increase of freedom and democracy
throughout the world. And yet, now,
suddenly, we are confronted with a
menace which endangers everything
that we have won and everything that
the world has won.
In all its old insolence, with all its an
cient cruelty and injustice, military
autocracy has again armed itself against
the pacific hopes of men. Having sup
pressed self government among it's
own people by an organization main.
tanned in part by falsehood and treach
cry, it has set out to impose its will up-
on its nelghbors and upon US. One bv
one, it has compelled every civilized nG-
ton in the world either to forego It's as
pirations or to declare war in their de-
Tense. We find ourselves fighting
again for our national existence. We
are face to face with the necessity of
asserting anew the fundamental right
of free men to make their own laws and
choose their own allegiance, or else
permit humanity to become the victim
of a ruthless ambition that is deter.
mined to destroy what it cannot master.
Against its threat the liberty loving
people of the world have risen and al
lied themselves. No fear has deferred
them, and no bride of material we'll be-
ing has held them back. They have
made sacrifices such as the world has
never known before, and their resist
ance in the face of death and suffering
has proved that the aim which animates
the German effort can never hope to
rule the spirit of mankind. Against the
horror of military conquest, against
the emptiness of living in mere bodily
contentment, against the desolation of
| becoming part of State that knows
neither truth nor honor, the world has
so reyolted that even people long domi-
mated and suppressed by force have
now begun to stir and arm themselves.
Centuries of subjugation have not de-
stroyed the racial aspirations of the
many distinct peoples of Eastern
Europe, nor have they accepted the
sordid ideals of their political and mill
tary masters. They have survived the
| slow prosecutions of peace as well as
the agonies of war, and now demand
recognition for their just claims to at
tonomy and self-government. Repre-
sentatives of these races are with YOU
today yoicing their loyalty to our ideals
and offering their services in the com
mon cause. | ask you, fellow citizens,
to unite with them in making this our
Independence Day the first that shall
be consecrated to a declaration of indie
pendence for all the peoples of the
world.
WOODROW WILSON.