New-York tribune., 1918-11-12
Scene of Rejoicing
AS President Reads
Historic Message
By Theodore M. knappen

war thus comes to an end; for, hav-
ing accepted these terms of armis-
tice, it will be impossible for the
German command to renew it,"
So the President of the United
States announced in person to the
Congress to-day, after having read to
it the terms of the armistice, which
sounded like so many successive de-
crees Of punishment and humiliation
for the dread terror that has filled
the world with fear and death these
four years and more.
Democracy's triumph was Off
cially communicated to the scant
portion of the parliament of Ameri-
can democracy that chanced to- be
in the Capitol in the simplest terms
of democracy.
There was not even preliminary
fanfare 'of trumpets, not single
squadron Of cavalry, no salvo of ar
tillery, no display whatever Of the
military arm Of the Republic that
has done it's mighty part in bring
ing peace.
1t was observed that the two or three
Congressman had put on frock coats
for the occasion, but in general there
was not the least bit of dressing up
for one of the greatest moments in the
history of the nation.
Most Of the House seats were vacant
when Speaker Clark ascended the ros-
trum, at 1885. Former Justice Charles
E. Hughes held a little reception on the
side about this time. Congressman
Aviator La Guarda came in then and
was enthusiastically received.
The Speaker and Vice President Mar
shall named committees of the two
Houses to escort the President into the
chamber, when it was announced that
he was awaiting in his room.
The President Arrives
Two or three minutes later the SER
geant-at-arms cried:
"The President of the United
States!"
AS the President entered at the left
of the Speakers platform, the Sena-
tors and Representatives arose and
cheered for several minutes That is,
all except Senator La Toilette. No ap-
plause from him.
Gentlemen Of the Congress-" said
Speaker Clark, ~ present the Prcsi-
dent of the United States"
Without further ado the President
began to read the armistice terms,
which he prefaced with an introduc-
tion of few words. 1t was com
mented that in the moment of victory
the President was more academic in
voice and manner than ever before
There was no note of exultation, or
even an Infection Of triumph in his
precise end even reading Of the death
sentence of German imperialism.
Without single rhetorical effect,
the leader Of Che nation that deter
mined the issue in the mightiest armed
struggle since men have fought each
other, cited the wiping out of German
artillery. the removal of the German
fleet, the determination of submarine
pirates, the occupation of Alsace-Lor-
raine, the Rhine Province, the Pal
atinate, all the Marches Of the Rhine,
the cancellation of the treaties Of
Brest- -Litovsk and Bucharest, the eman-
cipatson Of prisoners and. slaves with
out reciprocity. the surrender of the
fortresses and passages Of the Baltic
the continuation of the maritime block
ade, and all the other terms that oper-
ate to bind and throw the bloody giant
who has frightened the world for fifty
years.
Democracy was as simple and un-
ostentatious in the formal announce
ment of the ending of the war as it
was in its inception, but the begin
ming was far more spirited than the
end.
AS the President read clause after