The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-14
America Must Win War to
Save Humanity, and
Will Win It
SPEAKER AT NEW
YORK BAR BANQUET
President Was Challenged
To Name Americas
War Aims, and Did It
(Ry Associated Press.l

New York, Jan. 14.-Secretary OF
State Robert Lansing, speaking here
Saturday night at the annual dinner
OF the New York state bar associa-
ton, declared that until the war
aims outlined by President Wilson
are accepted by the Prussian govern
ment, the war must go on.
I'VE are In this war as a republic
to the very end" he declared en-
phatically, and brought the diners
to their feet cheering.
Mr.. Lansing's address was re-
garded by his hearers as a reply to
the comments in German papers up
on President Wilson's address to
congress. He declared the aims we
seek must be achieved and will be.
Confident in Capital.
81 bring you a message Of good
cheer from the national capital" he
said. an Washington there is cheer
fulness and confidence"
Speaking of optimism as an as
set, he said it has been "our source
Of wealth in every task the nation
ever undertook" and should be the
country's guiding spirit in the war.
THE President was challenged to
name the reasons why we are in the
war, and what We aim to achieve, .
Mr.. Lansing continued. HE has
named these aims and has done so
frankly without equivocation and
very definitely. The statement has
not been received with favor by
the Germans but unless we achieve
those aims, we have no sure foun-
dalton on which to build an enduring
peace"
Secretary Lansing was the first
speaker at the dinner which was at
tended by representatives OF most of
Americas allies in the war. Among
the guests were the Duke of Devon
shire, governor general Of Canada,
the ambassadors of Great Britain,
France and Italy, the ambassador
from Belgium and the attorney gen.
eral Of Great Britain Charles e.
Hughes presided.
Optimism An Asset.
''In Washington there is cheerful
ness and confidence, and that should
prevail through the republic" Mr..
Lansing said. IF 1 were asked to
name the principal trait of an Amer
lean I would say it is optimism.
Optimism is our great national asset.
1t is our source of health and pow
er. In every task this nation has
undertaken, optimism has been at
the base of its success and here, with
the greatest task we have ever un-
dertaken as a nation, optimism
should be throughout the republic
the guiding spirit of the nation.
"The aims which we seek are to
be achieved, and they win be
achieved. America never put her
hand to q task but she accomplished
1t. All we have to do is to set our
jaws, to clench our fists and to go
to 1t with all our might.
when we have so many of the
representatives of our co-partners in
them on our behalf and on the be-
half of the American people, our af-
lection and esteem.
ITO France, glorious France,
whose millions Of brave hearts have
been impossible barriers to Prus-l
sian fury!
ITO Belgium, bleeding, PROSTATE
who beneath the heel of
the brutal Prussian still lives as her
soul shall always livel
ITO Britain, logged, determined
Britain, whose stalwart soldiery
faced death in the trenches with a,
smile. &
ITO Italy, with the glorious spirit
Of the old Romans, whose armies to-
day on the Venetian plains and
the mountains Of the north
are standing guard over her ancient
shrine.
ITO Canada, our splendid neigh
Dor of the north, who has given
without stint her sons and her treas
lre in the cause Of liberty.
ITO all our comrades in arms,
those that are not represented here
tonight but stand shoulder to shout
Ter with us in the cause Of human
Justice 8
Nov my friends, to return to my
single message. My message is: Let
is all have courage. We are going
IN with this war. We must win 1t
win it."