The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-05-09
PEACE THROUGH SACRED UNION
VIVIANI SAYS IMPERIALISM
MUST BE DESTROYED,
French Mission Given ROusing Wei.
come From Thousands i'm Kansas
City.


Kansas City, May 6.--"The sacred
union of the United States and the
entente allies will not be dissolved
until German imperialism has been
destroyed and the peace Of the world
assured"
In those words M. Viviani, head of
the French mission and former pre-
inier Of France, acknowledged today
the proffered pledges of undivided CO.
operation of the Middle West in the
war.
The mission at the western end of
their trip through America spent A
morning here filled with manifesto
tions Of the spirit and patriotism of
this section. Thousands of persons
waving the French tri-color and the
Stars and Stripes, lined the streets
and crowded all available space at the
religious-loyalty meeting at Conven-
tion hall.
M. Viviani told the Convention
hall audience that the United States
had not entered the war alone to help
France. but rather to uphold the
torch Of civilization and to obtain for
the world ultimate peace. His words
were greeted with an outburst Of ap-
plause that subsided only when Mar
shall Joffre spoke g. few words in
acknowledgement Of the thunderous
ovation.
"You free Americans so well un-
derstand why thousands and thous-
ands of our children now are sleeping
their last" M. viviani said. "You
know it was not because there was In
our hearts the desire to conquer.
"You will come, not to help France
but to aid the cause Of civilization.
France, bleeding and fighting, with
many destroyed homes and tombs, has
held the German flood that now is 60
ing back. Come to France, you Amer
leans. and help civilization and lib
erty. 1t is the best way, the only
way to insure the peace of the world"
The former premier's speech came
at the close Of the meeting, after
Cows. F. d. Gardner of Missouri
and Arthur Capper of Kansas had
promised their States would not fail
to do their "bit.''
Thousands of persons had been
unable to get within convention hall
when Mayor Edwards called the
meeting to order. For hours men.
women and children had stood out
side the doOrs-as they had at the
Union station and wherever else they
might catch a glimpse of Papa"
Jofre, Viviani, Admiral Choche-
prot. Lieut.. Col. Jean Fabrey and
the others. Every aisle was packed
and the roar Of applause was tumul-
tous. Members of the commission
expressed their especial pleasure at
such demonstration from this dis
trict because 1t would be from the
surrounding States that much of the
wheat, corn and foodstuffs must come
to insure final victory over Germany.
Papa" Joffre was touched by an
incident that ocrured at the break
fast at the Union station attended by
a small number of representative
men. A gray haired woman, whose
name was unknown, sent to him by
a National Guardsman a letter con.
toining a $50 bill for the relief of
wounded heroes of the Marne.
The meeting at Convention hall
was religious service, partly as
memorial for the Lusitania. All creeds
were represented and one of the most
dramatic climaxes came when Rabbi
Bernstein Of st. Joseph. NO., declared
in his speech:
Il am thankful that the time has
come when I and my brothers, as
Jews. may enter this war, even as an
ally of Russia"
The commission departed for st.