The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-09

paper that has ever voiced a nations
policy: "The world must be mas"
safe for democracy" our president
calls to humanity. And we must feel
grateful that at this time we can be
guided by the greatest interpreter OF
our national life and aspirations; by
that leader who seems to have been
raised up for US in the hour of the
greatest need for wisdom for dealing
with the problems of the present and
/ security for the future.
/ The most mOmentOus event OF the |
worlds history lies a little before |
US, and must depend On US for its |
realization; namely, the assumption |
| by every people of the world Of that
power of self-government that right
/ fully belongs to them. With me sub
J lime determination that has sus-
tanned our allies, the day of the auto
Crat, the war maker, shall haV=
struck within the year that has seen
the weight of our arms thrown
against him. Since this struggle
started more than six hundred million
people who have lived under the
bughting influence of royal govern
ments have freed themselves from
this weight that bore them down
NOW, wien " e SBCdh u tClAtCNA 60
of government, l wonder how
many of us think what 1t means TO
us. We accept it in the same matter
Of course way that we accept the ar
. we breathe: we have never been de
prived of it and cannot think of our
selves without it. But taken away,
what would it mean? What has it
meant to conquered peoples since the
beginning Of the world to have rule
imposed by force? What has 1t
meant to Poland that laws, institu-
' lions and officers alien to their race
5 and spirit should rule them? what
i has it meant to Alsace-LOrraine to
be forced to repress love of country,
/, language and tradition, and bow to
- masters who by reason of force de-
e eide all things for them? What has
u it meant, what would it mean, to gen
y erous, free spirits, wherever they may
IL be, to live under a coercion?
] 1t is only when We have them
7 taken from US or threatened that we
y cherish this iberty-and more, this
t. right-of decision Of our own course
r of national Ire What would it NEAR
y, to us TO have our educational system
u our laws, our whole social policy
ID shape nv influences over which VIZ
10 have little or no control? Even II
y! our democracy We are aroused by thu
E. alarm that certain measures preJu
7i dicial to the common good have beer
d enacted by insjdiOus, selfish, silent in
&c huences. With US the alarm fur
III nishcs the correction. for we hav
IT, the power to right our wrongs BIZ
10 take from us this power, set force
IS above us that do not need to b
IL ( silent, that dare to oppose, some sc
OF called divine power, or power sliced
e. such forces as have in the past driver
'D as thew are now driving, nations {
US sIaughter-thcn we have foH our mas
Isl ter the aut0craCy. which has Away
IN been selfish and cruel. And have yo
Ill., thought that it is against such a
ne eventuality we must fight with allie
ne today or single-handed tomorrow
OF When we remember it is the e
eF ample of our great achievement
re- representative Government that HI
~ JgElEeBerB ST seIf-governninnSge cofmmun
&C. ties especially; and when we think
Of what our victories have accOmplishe
elsewhere as we'll as here, how insi.
, nlhcant seems the sufferings of oil
ne heroes in comparison with their gi
Oh to humanity. Think what a new
We born, educated Russia Will become
or the world! What a force an avail
lat ened China will be! And most of al
ga what that quality of miraculous e
M tiCienCy Of the Germans will mean /
As the world when turned wholly /
'et thoughts of peace
ar We have been the most striking e,
ne ample of republican government b.
90 cause we have shown how an hOne
,se and sincere people with widely diffe
ne ing local interests may grow into
II great compact nation, with q commO
'n~ democratic purpose. But these al
cH the accomplishments of the pas
ar which we have received as a her
tage. Our task, your task, is not
on see that we are the most pOwerf1
Oh nation ecOnOmicallv-our industl
lat and the bOuntIes Of nature in OF
he great land have provided for tina
us nor that we excel all in the might
IN our army and pavy-the sacrific,
he our allies have already made ar
OIL that we are beginning to share Wi
ay put an end to military rivalry: but
mt IS to see that we shall continue
~ merit the emulation of our new 81
ID ter republics in our examples of ju
cir tlce. We are big, we are great; b.
'er IN our material blgnesS there is
es- much danger of ignoring the persons
lp- and social rights of our more he'll
ne, less citizens Already I think. OF
las EXAMPLES of international are MOI
IS; conspicuous than those of domest
nd justice.
use 1t has been many years since I r
&c. turned for the first time from a 81
NY lourn in foreign lands As I sale
tn into New York .arbor saw then *
er, the first time that inspiring Statu
of Liberty, a gift from France whiC
GU symbolizes that earlier rift She mac
rit of men and money that brought l
ne, liberty itself. At the time I VIZ
ay scarcely older than the member
ng the, class that is graduating tonigh
'se But / remember the thrill of Joy tn;
" choked nv effort at speech. l couI
ng not analVZe NV emotions then brt