William Gibbs McAdoo

“ Every man and woman who stays at home, and for whose liberties, property, and sacred institutions our boys will shed their blood, must be moved by a spirit of sacrifice equal to that which animates our gallant troops. We must be willing to give up something of personal convenience, something of personal comfort, something of our treasure -- all, if necessary, and our lives in the bargain, to support our noble sons who go out to die for us. We fight for our sacred rights and for our noblest ideas. America has never lost a war for freedom, and with God's help we shall not fail now. ”

“ No self-respecting nation could permit any alien despot to order it to surrender rights that are vital to the national integrity and security. If we had not courage enough to defend our rights on that ground, then our material interests were so involved, that it was absolutely essential to America's continued life and prosperity that the Kaiser's order should be defied. ”

“ It would be difficult to exaggerate the seriousness of the great conflict in which we are engaged -- a conflict in which the fate of civilization is at stake -- a conflict of which God has called us as a champion of freedom and democracy. ”