I suppose that every thoughtful man in America has asked himself
during the last troubled weeks what influence the European war may
exert upon the United States; and I take the liberty of addressing a
few words to you in order to point out that it is entirely within our
own choice what its effects upon us will be, and to urge very
earnestly upon you the sort of speech and conduct which will best
safeguard the nation against distress and disaster.
The effect of the war upon the United States will depend upon what
American citizens say and do. Every man who really loves America will
act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of
impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned.
The spirit of the nation in this critical matter will be determined
largely by what individuals and society and those gathered in public
meetings do and say; upon what newspapers and magazines contain; upon
what our ministers utter in their pulpits, and men proclaim as their
opinions on the streets.
The people of the United States are drawn from many nations and
chiefly from the nations now at war. It is natural and inevitable that
there should be the utmost variety of sympathy with regard to the
issues and circumstances of the conflict. Some will wish one nation,
others another, to succeed in the momentous struggle.
It will be easy to excite passion and difficult to allay it. Those
responsible for exciting it will assume a heavy responsibility;
responsibility for no less a thing than that the people of the United
States, whose love of their country, and whose loyalty to its
government should unite them as Americans, all bound in honor and
affection to think first of her and her interests, may be divided into
camps of hostile opinions, hot against each other, involved in the war
itself in impulse and opinion, if not in action.
Such diversions among us would be fatal to our peace of mind and might
seriously stand in the way of the proper performance of our duty as
the one great nation at peace, the one people holding itself ready to
play a part of impartial mediation and speak the counsels of peace and
accommodation, not as a partisan, but as a friend.
I venture, therefore, my fellow countrymen, to speak a solemn word of
warning to you against that deepest, most subtle, most essential
breach of neutrality which may spring out of partisanship, out of
passionately taking sides.
The United States must be neutral in fact as well as in name during
these days that are to try men’s souls. We must be impartial in
thought as well as in action, must put a curb upon our sentiments as
well as upon every transaction that might be construed as a preference
of one party to the struggle before another. My thought is of America.
I am speaking, I feel sure, the earnest wish and purpose of every
thoughtful American that this great country of ours, which is, of
course, the first in our thoughts and in our hearts, should show
herself in this time of peculiar trial a nation fit beyond others to
exhibit the fine poise of undisturbed judgment, the dignity of
self-control, the efficiency of dispassionate action; a nation that
neither sits in judgment upon others nor is disturbed in her own
counsels, and which keeps herself fit and free to do what is honest
and disinterested and truly serviceable for the peace of the world.
Shall we not resolve to put upon ourselves the restraint which will
bring to our people the happiness and the great lasting influence for
peace we covet for them?