The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-07-09
WILSON DECLARES ANEW
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
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Continued from Page One.)
settlement must be final. There can
be no compromise.
"What we seek is the reign of
law, based upon the consent of the
governed and sustained by the or
ganized opinion of mankind"
The speakers crisp words as he
emphasized the least which Ameri-
ca will consider as a basis for peace
were interrupted by a tumult of
applause and words of approval in
many tongueus.
Celebrating the purpose for which
the Associated peoples of the
world". are fighting, the president
reiterated that peace can be made
only when the central powers agree
to the destruction of ~militarism,
the consent of the governed for all
readjusutment, the sacredness Of
treaties and the organization of a
league of peace. He further fore
stalled any offers of peace by COM
promise which the central powers
may make by announcing that the
purposes for which the United
States is sending millions Of its men
to the trenches may not be fulfilled
around a council table.
"Theses great ends a not be
achieved by debating" the president
asserted, and seeking to reconcile
and accommodate what statesmen
may wish, with their projects for
balances of power and of national
opportunity. They can be realized
only by the determination. of what
the thinking people of the world de-
sire, with their longing hope for JUS
tice and for social freedom and op-
portunity."
Draws Plain Distinction.
Throughout his address the presi-
dent referred to "the peoples" who
are fighting against autocracy,
stressing thereby the unity of pur-
poses which actuates the allied ma
tons. On the other hand, he diff
ferentiated between the people Of
Germany and thier rulers as he al
ways has done, speaking Of the iso7
lated, friendless group of govern
ments whose peoples are fuel in their
hands.
A single reference to Russia gave
notice to the world that the United
States still accounts the peoples OF
the youngest democracy as allies.
President Wilson enumerated the
opponents of Germany as peoples of
many races, "the pepole of stricken
Russia still, among the rest, though
they are for the moment inorganic
ed and helpless" Especial interest
attached to his words particularly
to the statement that Russia's dis
tress is only temporary because of
plans now being formulated for Civ
ing assistance to the country. Boris
.Bakhmeteff, who was sent here as
Russian ambassador during the Ker-
ensky regime, was in the audience.
Meaning of Great Day.
The presidents speech in full was.
as follows:
"Gentlemen of the Diplomatic Corps
and My Fellow Citizens:
II am happy to draw apart with
you to this quiet place of old coun-
sci in order to speak a little of the
meaning of this day of u nations
independence. The place, seems very
still and remote. 1t is as ren and
untouched by the hurry of the world
as it was in those great days long
ago when General Washington was
here and held leisurely conference
with the men who were to be asso-
ciated with him in the creation Of
a nation. From these gentle slopes
they looked out upon the world and
saw it whole, saw it with the light
of the future upon it, saw it with
modern eyes that turned away from