Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1915 — PRESIDENTS PLEA IS "HUMANITY FIRST” [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENTS PLEA IS "HUMANITY FIRST”

In Speech to Naturalized Americans In Philadelphia He Referred to Lusitania By Reference.

President Wilson spoke to 4,000 naturalized Americans in Philadelphia Monday night. In his spe4% he intimated what course would be taken in the situation resulting from the sinking of the Lusitania. He spoke by implication but his hearers interpreted his remarks as meaning that while the United States will remain at peace it would seek to convince Germany of the injustice to mankind of the tragedy of last Friday. America, said the president, must have the consciousness that on all sides it touches elbows and touches hearts with all the nations of mankind. The example of America must be a special example and must not be merely an example of peace, because peace is healing elevating of the world and strife is not. There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight. There is such a thing as (being so right that it does not need to convince others by force that it is right. These remark* precipitated a tumult of applause and patriotic enthusiasm attended by a waving of thousands of American flags. The sentiment in the president’s speech was epitomized later by one of his closest advisers as “humanity first.” While it has not been decided what steps would be taken in the present crisis, no matter what course is adopted it will have as its objective the good of humanity. The president was constantly interrupted by the storm of applause that broke forth from time to time. He spoke so clearly and so quiet was the audience that he could be distinctly heard in all parts of the great hall.