City Hall where I was welcomed by the Mayor. In a speech on the
steps of the City Hall I said:

"We are standing to-day very near the brink of
war, but I want to assure you that if we should be
drawn into the conflict it will be only after our
President has exhausted every means consistent
with upholding the honour and dignity of the
United States to keep us from war. I left Berlin
with a clear conscience, because I felt that
during all my stay there I had omitted nothing to
make for friendly relations and peace between the
two nations.

"I am very glad to-day to see on the list of this
Reception Committee the names of people of German
descent. It is but natural that citizens of German
descent in the beginning of the war should have
had a sentimental feeling toward Germany, that
they should have looked back through rose-coloured
glasses on that land which, however, they left
because they did not have equality of opportunity.
We read to-day in the newspapers for the first
time that there is a prospect that after the war
the Germans will be given an equal share in their
own government. I believe that in our hour of
trial we can rely upon the loyalty of our citizens
of German descent, and if they would follow me I
would not be afraid to go out with a regiment of
them and without any fear of being shot from
behind.

* * * * *

"The nation that stands opposite to us to-day has
probably no less than 12,000,000 men under arms. I
have seen the Germans take more prisoners in one
afternoon than there are men in the entire United
States Army.

"Does it not seem to you ridiculous that the two
States of New York and New Jersey should have more
chauffeurs in them than there are soldiers in our
army? My companions from the Twelfth Regiment that
have honoured me by coming here to-day, and more
men like them throughout the country, have done
what they can. But they can't do it all. There
must be a public sentiment if we are to maintain
ourselves as a nation. If we had a million men
under arms to-day we should not be near the edge
of war.

"Gentlemen, I have tried in Berlin to be, as the
Mayor has told you, an American Ambassador, and I
thank you because you,