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TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK Upon just grounds and after long and pa- tient forbearance, the President and the Congress of the United States have declared that by the act of the autocratic Government which rules in the German Empire war exists between the two countries, and the free peo- ple of America are about entering into the great world conflict. Millions of the people of this city were born in the countries en- gaged in this great war. No part of the earth is without its representatives here. I enjoin upon you all that you honor the liberty which so many of you have sought in this land and the free self-government of the American democracy, in which we all find our opportunity and individual free- dom, by exercising kindly consideration, self- control, and respect to each other and to all others who dwell within our limits ; that you, one and all, aid in the preservation of order and in the exercise of calm and deliberate judgment in this time of stress and tension. There will be some exceptional case? of malign influence and malicious purpose among you, and as to them I advise you all that full and timely preparation has been made adequate to the exigency which exists for the maintenance of order throughout the City of New York, and for the warning of the ill-disposed I quote the statute of the United States, which is applicable to all residents en- joying the protection of our laws whether they be citizens or not. prev next |