The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-04-20
WILSON'S GREAT PROCLAMATION


than Golfers. 1t belittled him in eT-
cry way Nothing he did pleased it,.
But his message to congress asking
that it declare that state of war eX-
lists between the United States ami
Germany Instantly changed Collier 5
viewpoint OF that message it say:
The presidents address TO con
gress on the night of April , was d
marvel of orderly reasoning and lofty
eloquence The session was a great
one, but the speech was fully equal to
it. No other public utterance deliver
ed since the European war broke out.
not even Viviani's address to the
French chamber. is at all comparable
to it
It will be remembered that ex-
President Roosevelt, eX-President
Taft, Judge Charles Z. Hughes, who
was a candidate against President
Wilson, Senator Lodge, who was not
on speaking terms with him, and
many others who had misjudged him,
went to the White House bearing o.
i've branches and extended to the pres
ident either in person or by public
utterance their warmest congratula-
tons and best good wishes
Almost without exception at home
it has been pronounced a great deliv-
erance worthy to take rank with the
ablest state papers that have ever
been written
1t has been received with the same
measure of appreciation across the
water that it has been received at
home, and it makes those of us who
have always admired the president
feel very proud.
The London Times doubts If N
all history a great community has
ever been summoned to war on
grounds so largely ideal"
The London Times says
'In this great utterance we seem
to hear at last the authentic voice Of
humanity stating the issue, pronounc-
ing judgment and awakening the
conscience CT the world to the mighty
things at stake"
The London Star says:
Our emotions find expression as
we read the majestic closing words
of President Wilson's message. We
are not ashamed to say that these
words are destined to echo through
the ages and to be read by free men
with grateful hearts. They fill our
eyes with tears Of pride and gratitude.
Here and now the future of humanity
is being shaped and moulded for all
time
The London Morning Post refers to
the address as proof of the solidarity
of civilization"
The lie Temps of Paris eloquently
sums up the full significance of the
address;
When the starry banner of the Tn
ion will be unfurled on our battlefelds
it will be something more than mill
tary. naval or financial cooperation
ii will be the verdict of the conscience
of the human race before the tribu
nal of history"
In Perograd improyised meetings
were held at the house of parliament
in which the speakers explained the
presidents action to crowds of sol
diers and civilians, amid scenes of ex
traordinary enthusiasm
We are told that even the German
newspapers, without access to the text
OF the presidents address, are fully
conscious OF its moral effect that it Is
exciting IL France and Russia.
The Now York World we'll says that
the presidents message of democracy
was addressed no less to the German
people than to the American people
themselves, and it is the Germans, Of
all the people in the world, who need
it most. 1t is an emancipation procla
nation to them as we'll as to all other
victims of autocracy. and unless they.
too, seize the spirit of the presidents
address, their dead. of all the millions
of dead, Will alone have died in vain
The Chicago Tribune. hostile as Col.
lier's and like it, does not hesitate
to pronounce its admiration. 1t says:
President Wilson's address to con.
gress is one of the most magnificent
state papers of modern times. Broad
in scope, upanswerable in logic, prac.
teal in recommendations inspired in
language-cne hesitates to analyze it
or to select some particular part for
quotation or especial praise.
His welcome to Russia is as discrim.
mating in thought as it is happy in
phrasing. His distinction between the
German government and the German