thought, purpose or power of the family of nations; that the seas
should be equally free and safe for the use of all peoples, under rules
set up by common agreement and consent, and that, so far as
practicable, they should be accessible to all upon equal terms; that
national armaments shall be limited to the necessities of national
order and domestic safety; that the community of interest and of power
upon which peace must henceforth depend imposes upon each nation the
duty of seeing to it that all influences proceeding from its own
citizens meant to encourage or assist revolution in other states should
be sternly and effectually suppressed and prevented.

I need not argue these principles to you, my fellow countrymen; they
are your own part and parcel of your own thinking and your own motives
in affairs. They spring up native amongst us. Upon this as a platform
of purpose and of action we can stand together. And it is imperative
that we should stand together. We are being forged into a new unity
amidst the fires that now blaze throughout the world. In their ardent
heat we shall, in God's Providence, let us hope, be purged of faction
and division, purified of the errant humors of party and of private
interest, and shall stand forth in the days to come with a new dignity
of national pride and spirit. Let each man see to it that the
dedication is in his own heart, the high purpose of the nation in his
own mind, ruler of his own will and desire.

I stand here and have taken the high and solemn oath to which you have
been audience because the people of the United States have chosen me
for this august delegation of power and have by their gracious judgment
named me their leader in affairs.

I know now what the task means. I realize to the full the