Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-24
Highest Officials of Gou-
ernment Speak Words
Of Hope and
Confidence.

/ greetings 10 might 10 the people OF the
! United States.
They are sent out by the highest
I officials OF the government in the hope
| that they may carry into every home
/ full measure OF hope. OF confidence. OF
comfort and OF cheer on the occasion
OF this. the first Christmas that Amer
! lea appears as bclliserent in tho
mighty world struggle for human
rights and the principles OF freedom.
| Awaiting themselves OF the oppor-
/ turity offered, members or the diplo-
/ matte corps at Washington have Joined
/ in these greetings.
\ President Wilson himself. sirded as
/ he is with full determination 10 see
! the purposes OF America in the war
! carried out 10 the end looks forward
/ with steadfast caserness to ,the day
when just and a permanent peace
can be set up in the world. Conscious
as he is Of the ultimate might of this
country in the war. nevertheless he
extends the hand OF sympathy to every
} individual. to every mother and TO
every wife. TO every man and every
woman upon whom ,ne burdens OF
sacrifice must rest.
RESURRECTIoN OF PEACE
FoUESEEN by MARSHALL
! Nicc-President Marshall secs ahead
the resurrection OF peace and has writ
ten this message for the thought o.
! the nation.
/ The first Christmas meant more
i than Bethlehem. 1t meant also Cal
wary l: forcshadowed that sacrifice
/ ia always needed i, there is TO be n
CHRISTMAS OF the soul the only per-
icc' Eiadness. she Joy OF the we'll done.
"ayhap this year there are myriad
more souls than ever before aconizior
! upon the crosses OF personal and ma
tional suffering. And yet at the end of
II all we see the resurrection of peace
and good will among men.
Anybody may be merry with IN.
laus h'er OF the thouEhtless. To the
'Hise II is given alone to rejoice amid
sorrow when we'll assured of the JUS
/ tice OF the cause for which they suffer.
/ Let us be worthy TO be among the
wise. Let this indeed be the merrIcs.
or all ChTiSmases in the hope and faith
/ tnat makes US glad and not ashamed of
! our present sorrow and sacrifice.
tSiEncdp THOMAS r. MARSHALL"
WILL RISE TRIUMPHANT
/ PROM DAYS OF MADNESS
! Secretary OF State Lansing sends this
message:
The world celebrates Christmas be-
cause 1t is commemorative Of the birth
OF Him who taught TO mankind the
principles OF life on which rest our
modern civilization.
Z To-day we are engaged in a mighty
struggle to preserve those principles
( and TO save mankind from the evil
power which would destroy them.
The world, even in the midst of its
agony and voc. can celebrate with
gratitude and reverence yes. and with
/ iey the advent among men of the
Author OF those divine truths, which
VIII rise triumphant when these days
Of madness arc ended and will give
10 the nations an enduring peace,
founded upon liberty and justice.
(Sisncd) "ROBERT LANSING"
Secretary OF War Baker has big
thought for tho men abroad, in this
greeting:
"In this time OF holiday we do not
forget that heroic number who have
Sonc to n far. foreign shore that our
institutions may be preserved undis-
| ;urbed. May they find comfort in the
knowledge that our sobcrcd observ-
ancc Of this day is not lacking in ap-
! probation for their sacrifices and de-
Notion-for some of them the last full
measure OF devotion.
/ (SiGncd) NEWTON D. BAKER"
Secretary of the Navy Daniels fore
sees victory and confidently predicts
it in these words:
"Dr. van Dykes The Other Wise
Man found the Savior. after years OF
searching and sacrifice. This Christ
mas. above all others, is the way to
.rft,
heroic giving of life and substance. We
arc moving toward that long deferred
era OF Sood will to men which tho
Christ promised should bless mankind.
1T will come to us. not merely end
ing this war. but presagins the period
when VIC shall realize the prophecy
Of Isaiah They shall beat their swords
into plowshares. But, like all good
things that abide. it Will come only by
the heavy toll OF life. but what would
life be without liberty? Men from
America arc fighting this Christmastidc,
| because might seeks TO deny the free
| dom which alone can make the world a.
fit place for free men. They will win
and their victory will truly enable us
on every future Christmas to sing
| Peace on earth. good will toward men,
with the assurance that it is posses
sion which neither force nor any other
| evil thing can take from us.
(Signed "JOSEPHUS DANIELS"
| Members OF Congress forctcll Of the
coming era of peace:
AMERICANS HAVE CAUSE
FOR sELF-CONGRATULAT
Champ Clark. Speaker OF the House
OF Representatives. sends this as his
| Christmas word:
Notwithstanding that we are in the
midst of tho most stupcndous war since
| Nimrod first went forth to battle, Amer
| leans are not downcast and still have
causes for self-congratulation. Taken
altogether, the country is in "A flourish
ing condition. or course. we face some
! Continued on Third ragc.)