The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-05
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Wilson answered al sellers mr. COM
promlDo Doaeo. Win . new and unQaal-
~ oonsseration q America 10 the
IEuvls COR cleaning military au.ocney
Gun ~ saFth.
~ q Independence Day gathering
q Mount Vernon. home and tomb Of
0oopno Warrington. SurrOunded ~
Sfbnss which looked upon the ereA,
tn @ this nation. the President ID
dressed . small gathering Of officials
nna diplomats Of the Allied nations.
Bat u spoke to the world and he
spoko the logical sequel 10 his force
without stint or limit" declaration OF
several weeks ago.
ne Presidents speech h fan fol.
loTb:
Gentlemen Of the Diplomatic Corps
ana my Fellow itizens--I am happy
70 draw apart with you to this quiet
place Of old counsel in order to speak
Mttlo Of the meaning Of this day OF
our nationls independence. The place
SENS voty StIll. Il Is as serene and
untouched ~ the hurry Of the world as
Il was n those great days long ago
when Gen. 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 Il whole, saw It with
the light Of the future upon it, saw 1t
with modern eyes that turned away
from Q past which men Of liberated
spirits could no longer endure. 1t is
for that reason that we cannot feel,
even here. in the immediate presence
Of this sacred tomb, that this is a
place Of death. It 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.
ed are the inspiriting associations OF
that noble death which is only a
glorious contamination. From this
green hillside we also ought to be able
to se with comprehending eyes the
world that lies about us and should
conceive anew the purposes that must
set men free.
Il Is significant = significant OF
thel rown character and purpose and
Of the influence they we're setting
afoot-that Washington and his asso-
GATES, like the barons at Runnymede,
spoke and acted. not for a class, but
for . people. 1t has been left for t.
TO see to 1t that Il shall be understood
that they spoke and acted. not for a
single people only. but for all mar.
kind. They were thinking, not OF
themselves and Of the material inter.
cts which centeredin the little groups
o. lcndholders and merchants and men
CT affairs with whom they were &C.
ccstcmcd to act, in Virginia and the
colonies to the north and south OF
hcza, but OF a people which wished to
be done with classes and special in
tere3ts and the authority of men whom
they had not themselves chosen to rule
over them.
They entertained no private purpose,
decired no peculiar privilege. They
were consciously planning that men OF
every class should be free and America
q place to which men out Of every ma
ton might resort who wished to share
with them the rights and privileges cs
free men. And We take our cue from
them-do we not? We intend what
they intended. We here In America
believe our participation in this pres.
ent war to be only the fruitage OF What
they planted. Our case diners from
theirs only In this. that it is our ines.
Unable privilege 10 concert with men
out Of every nation what shall make
no tOnly the liberties of America Sc.
eure but the liberties OF every other
people ~ well. We are happy in the
thought that we are permitted to do
what they have done had they been in
our place. There must now be settled
once for all what was settled for Amer.
lea IN the great age upon whose in
spirati0n we draw today. This Is sure
" fitting place from which calmly
70 look out upon our task, that We may
fortify our spirits for Its accomplish.
ment And this Is the appropriate
place from which to avow. alike to the
friends who look on and the friends
with whom we have the happiness to
Be associated in action.
This. then. Il our conception Of the
great struggle In which we are en-.
gaed. The plot Is written plain upon
oyory scene and every act Of the su.
prone tragedy. On the one hand
stand the peoples Of the world-not
only the peoples actually engaged. but
many others also who suffer under
mastery but cannot act; people OF
many races and IN every part Of the
Wotld-the people Of stricken Russia
stu. among the rest. though they are
Tor the moment unorganized and help.
les. Opposed to them. masters OF
many armies. stand an isolated. friend.
less group Of governments who speak
10 common purpos1 but only selfish
ambitions Of their own By which none
can profit but themselves, and whose
peoples are fuel In their hands: gov
eE1mentS which for their people and
yet ere for the time their sovereign
lords. making every choice for them
ana disDoslng Of their lives and for.
tunes - they win As well a. the lives
and fortunes Of every people who fall
under their power = governments
clothed with the strange trappings
md The primitive authority OF an age
that = altogether alien and hostile to
Dur Own. The past and the present
1go y deadly grapple and the peoples