It is a distressing and oppressive duty, gentlemen of the Congress, which I have performed in thus
addressing you. There are, it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead of us. It is a fearful
thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars,
civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight
for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts -- for democracy, for the right of those who
submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations,
for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all
nations and make the world itself at last free. To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes,
everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has
come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth
and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other.