Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-09
fight TO THE FINISH
President Wilson ReItefatcS Amer
iCa'S Positions.
At THE TOMB IN WASHINGTON.
There Can be No Thought Of Peace
that Does Not Involve the Complete
Destruction Of Military Autoeraey.

There Can be No Thought Of Peace
that Does Not Involve the Complete
Destruction Of Military Autocraey.
From the shadow Of Washington
tomb. President Wilson on the Fourth
Of July offered Americas Declaration
OF Independence to the peoples Of the
world, with a pledge that the United
States and its allies will not sheatht
the sword in the war against the GEN.
trail powers until there Is settled "once
for all" for the world what was settled
for America In 1916.
Foreign-born citizens of the United
States OF 33 nationalities who had
placed wreaths Of palms on the tomb
in token of fealty to the principles
laid down by the father Of this coun-
try cried their approval Of his words
i'm many languages and then stood
with reverently barred heads while the
voice Of John Mccormack scared over
the hallowed ground in the notes OF
the "Star-Spangled Banner"
The presidents speech in full was
as follows:
Gentlemen Of the diplomatic
corps and my fellow citizens: am
happy to draw apart with you to this
quiet place Of old counsel in order
to speak Il little Of the meaning of
this day of our nations independence.
The place seems very still and re-
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 associated with
him in the creation Of nation. From
these gentle slopes they looked out
upon the world and saw 1t whole, saw
it with the light Of the future upon
it. SAW it with modern eyes that turned
away from past which men of lib
Grated spirits could no longer endure.
1t is for that reason that we cannot
feel, even here, in the immediate pres
cncc Of this sacred tomb, that this Is
IL place of death. 1t was a place Of
achievement. A great promise that
was meant for all mankind was here
given plan and reality. The associa-
tions by which we are here surround
cd are the inspiriting associations Of
that noble death which Is only q
glorious consummation. From this
green hillside we also ought to be able
to see with comprehending eyes the
world that lies about us aid should
conceive anew the purposes that must
set men free.
1T is neutrality-suspicious. Of
their own character and: purpose apd
Of. the inauencess shay .raes 1se8
afootSthat Washlhgton, "a dshis -
seeiatssr.aseS-th the sSa Il n
mcde, spoke and acted, not for n
class. but for a people. 1t has been
left for us TO see to 1t that 1t shall
he understood that they spoke and
acted, not for a single people, only.
but for all mankind. They were think
ing. not of themselves and of the ma
terial interests which centered in the
little groups of landholders and mer-
chants and men Of affairs with whom
they we're accustomed to act, in Vir-
ginia and the colonies to the north
and south OF her, but OF people
which wished to be done with classes
and special interests and the authority
of men whom they had not themselves
chosen to rule over them. They en-
tertained no private purpose, desired
no peculiar privilege. They were con-
sciously planning that men Of every
class should be free and America a
place to which men out of every ma
tion might resort who wished to share
with them the rights and privileges
of free men. And we take our cue
from them-do we not?
we intend what they intended. We
here in America believe our participa-
tion In this present war to be only the
fruitage of what they planted. Our
case differs from theirs only In this,
that il is our inestimable privilege
to concer, with men out of every ma
ton what shall make not only the
liberties Of America secure but the lib
critics of every other people as well.
We are happy in the thought that we
are permitted to do what they would
have done had they been in our place.
There must now be settled once for
all what was settled for America In
the great age upon whose inspiration
we draw today.
This is surely a fitting place from
which calmly to look out upon our
task. that we may fortify our spirits
for it's accomplishment. And this is
the appropriate place from which to
avow, alike to the friends who look
on and to the friends with whom we
have the happiness to be associated In
action, the faith and purpose with
which We act.
This. then, is our conception Of the
great struggle in which We are en-
gagged. The plot Is written plain upon
every scene and every act Of the su-
preme tragedy. On the one hand
stand the peoples of the world-not
only the peoples actually engaged, bu,
many others also who suffer under
mastery but cannot act; peoples OF
many races and in every part Of the
world-the people Of stricken Russia,
still among the rest, though they are
for the moment unorganized and help
less. Opposed to them, masters OF
many armies, stand an isolated
friendless group Of governments who
speak no common purpose but only
selfish ambitions Of their own by
which none can profit but themselves
and whose peoples are fuel in their
hands: governments which fear theil
people and yet are for the time theii
sovereign lords, making every choice
for them and disposing Of their Lives
and fortunes as they will, as well Al
OF the lives and fortunes Of every peo-
nle Yho fall under their power-gov.