The Pascagoula chronicle. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1905-1920, 1918-11-16
PRESIDENT TELLS CONGRESS
ARMIsTlcE MEANS END OF WAR,

ident Wilson proclaimed the signing OF
the armistice with Germany. After
reading the terms of the armistice
terms which shall 90 down in his
tory as the most drastic ever imposed
on defeated foe-the President
spoke as follows
The war thus comes to an end; for,
having accepted these terms of ar-si
tice, it will be impossible for the Ger
man command to renew it. 1t is not
now possible to assess the consequent
ces of this great consummation. We
know only that this tragical war,
whose consuming flame swept from
one nation to another until all the
world was on fire, is at an end, and
that it was the privilege of our own
people to enter 1t at its most critical
juncture in such fashion and in such
force as contribute in way of which
we are deeply proud to the great re-
suit. We know that the object of the
war is attained; the object upon which
all free men had set their hearts; and
attained with a sweeping completeness
which even now we do not realize.
Armed Imperialism as the men con-
ceived who were but yesterday the
masters of Germany is at an end, It's
Illicit ambitions engulfed in black
disaster. Who will seek to revive 1t?
The arbitrary power of the military
caste of Germany, which once could
secretly and of it's own single choice
disturb the peace of the world is dis
credited and destroyed. And more
than that-much more than that-has
been accomplished. The great nations
which associated themselves to de-
stroy it have now definitely united in
the common purpose to set up such a
peace as will satisfy the longing of
the whole world for disinterested JUS
tice, embodied in settlements which
are based upon something much better
and much more lasting than the sell
fish competitive interests of powerful
states. There is no longer conjectures
as to the objects the victors have in
mind. They have mind in the mat
ter, not only, but a heart also. Their
avowed and concerted purpose is to
satisfy and protora freak as well
as to accord til 'ne "ghts to the
strong. '"''
The humane tess. and intention
already been manifested in very
practical way. Their representatives
in the Supreme War Council at Yer
sailles have by unanimous resolu
ton assured the people of the Central
Empires that everything that is pos
sible in the circumstances will be
done to supply them with food and re-
lieve the distressing want that is in
so many places threatening their very
lives; and steps are to be taken i'm
mediately to organize these efforts at
relief in the same systematic manner
that they were organized in the case
of Belgium. BY the use of the idle I
tonnage of the Central Empires it
ought presently to be possible to lift
the fear Of utter misery from their
oppressed populations and set their
minds and energies free for the great
and hazardous tasks of political recon-
that now face them on every
hand. Hunger does not breed reform;
1t breeds madness and all the ugly
that make an ordered life
For with the fall of the ancient gov
ernments which rested like an in
cubus upon the peoples of the Central ..
Empires has come political change
not merely, but revolution; and revolu- ..
ton which seems as yet to assume no
final and ordered form but to run .
from one fluid change to another, until 9
thoughtful men are forced to ask
themselves, with what governments
md Of what sort, are we about to deal
n the making of the covenants of
,eace? With what authority will they
meet us, and with what assurances Z
hat their authority will abide and :
ustain securely the international ar
into which we are about
o enter. When peace is made, upon )
whose promises and engagements be- e
ides our own is it to rest? ::
Let us be perfectly frank with our ;,
elves and admit that these questions &
annot be aatisfactorily answered now !.
II at once. But the moral is not that !;
here is little hope of an early answer q
hat will suffice. 1t is only that we 4
nust be patient and helpful and mind 2:
III above all of the great hope and con-
dence that lie at the heart of what
) taking place. Excuses accomplishJ
othing. Unhappy Russia has furnish T
d abundant recent proof Of that. =
disorder Immediately defeats itself.
excuses should occur, if disorder
hould for time raise its head, IT
Dber second thought will follow and
efine their place among the nations
amove all fear of their neighbors and III
their former masters, and enable Il
lem to live in security and content NJ
lent when they have set their own 1c
fairs in order. I, for one, do not of
oubt their purpose or their capacity. d,
here are some happy signs that they
49, a,J mill obooca tho ,ray Of