Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1916 — Loss of Self Respect Too High a Price to Pay For Peace [ARTICLE]

Loss of Self Respect Too High a Price to Pay For Peace

By President WOODROW WILSON

I CAI.L you to witness, my fellow countrymen. that I have sficnt every thought ami energy that has been vouchsafed me in order to keep this country out of war. It cannot be disclosed now—perhaps it never can be disclosed—how anxious and how difficult that task has been, but mv heart has been in it 1 have not grudged a single burden that has been thrown upon me with that end in view, for 1 KXL\Y THAT NuT ONLY MY OWN HEART, BIT THE HEART OF ALL AMERICA, WAS IN THE CAINSE FOR PEACE. And yet, .ray fellow citizens, there are some men among us preaching peace who go much further than 1 can go; not further than I can go in the sentiment of peace, not further than truth warrants them in going in interpreting the desire and sentiment of America, but further than 1 can follow them; further, 1 believe, than you can follow them in preaching the doctrine of peace at any price and in any circumstances. There is a price which is too .great to pay for peace, and that price can he put in one word. One cannot pay the price of self respect. ONE CANNOT PAY THE PRICE OF DUTIES ABDICATED, OF GLORIOUS OPPORTUNITIES NEGLECTED, OF CHARACTER, NATIONAL CHARACTER,‘VINDICATED AND 1 EXEMPLIFIED IN ACTION.