In the recounting of U.S. history, the U.S. has often been presented as the fresh, new, better way of doing things, as opposed to the old, crumbling, corrupted empires of Europe. World War I, which was the final death spasm of many of those crumbling empires, didn't exactly help Europe's image in American eyes, especially since we had to swoop in and rescue everyone at great cost to American lives.

Coolidge draws on that traditional "us vs. them" idea, capitalizing on America's new role as Europe's economic savior to reinforce the superiority of America (the New World) over their Old World ancestors. Still, we can't totally break away; they're people after all:

The physical configuration of the earth has separated us from all of the Old World, but the common brotherhood of man, the highest law of all our being, has united us by inseparable bonds with all humanity (5.6).

Europe had just finished fighting a brutal war that was caused by years of toxic political rivalries. Because of a tangled web of alliances and treaties and rivalries, what started out as a small regional conflict ended up with Europe imploding. America's doing something new by avoiding such nasty conflicts.

Removing the burden of expense and jealousy, which must always accrue from a keen rivalry, is one of the most effective methods of diminishing that unreasonable hysteria and misunderstanding which is the most potent means of fomenting war. This policy represents a new departure in the world (7.1-2).

So what's America to do with those annoying, squabbling Old World neighbors?

We have never any wish to interfere in the political conditions of any other countries. Especially are we determined not to become implicated in the political controversies of the Old World […] Our private citizens have advanced large sums of money to assist in the necessary financing and relief of the Old World. We have not failed, nor shall we fail to respond, whenever necessary to mitigate human suffering and assist in the rehabilitation of distressed nations (10.1-2, 4-5).

The fact that he repeatedly refers to the "Old World" by name just reinforces the whole "out with the old, in with the new" mentality that Americans have promoted about themselves from their founding:

We are not identified with any Old World interests. This position should be made more and more clear in our relations with all foreign countries. We are at peace with all of them. Our program is never to oppress, but always to assist (12.2-4).

Coolidge gives one final parting shot right at the end of the speech: "America seeks no earthly empire built on blood and force. No ambition, no temptation, lures her to thought of foreign dominions" (25.7-8).

Everyone in the audience would've been aware of European nations' colonial empires—that's what made World War I into a world war in the first place. Australian and Indian soldiers weren't fighting because they were mad about Franz Ferdinand's murder; they fought because they were British colonies. None of that for us, says Coolidge.

The takeaway? The U.S. is a beacon of light leading the way as the Old World crumbles around itself.