The Washington times., 1918-12-26
Copyright. 1913.
BY the Tribune
Association.

pected of me. and / am happy to
say, my fellow countrymen, that l
did not find in the hearts OF the
great leaders with whom IL Is my
privilege now to cooperate any
difference of principles or OF fun
damental purpose.
II happened that IL was the
privilege of America 60 present
the chart for peace. and now the
process OF settlement has been
rendered comparatively simple by
the fact that all the nations con-
cerned have accepted that chart,
and the application OF these prin-
ciples laid down there will be
their application.
Ready to Make Good.
The world will now know that
the nations that fought this war
as well as the soldiers who rep
resented them. are ready to make
good, make good not only in the
assertion OF their own interests,
but make good in the establish
ment of peace upon the perma-
nent foundation OF right and OF
justice.
Because this is not a war in
which the soldiers OF the free
nations have obeyed masters. You
have commanders. but you have
no masters. Your very COM
manders represent you in repre-
senting the nation, of which you
constitute so distinguished a part.
And everybody concerned in
the settlement knows that IL must
be a peoples peace, and that
nothing must be done in the set
tlement OF the issues OF the war
which is not as handsome as the
great achievements OF the armies
Of the United States and the allies.
Only One Regret Felt.
1t is difficult, very difficult.
men, in any normal speech like
this, to show you my real heart.
You men probably do not realize
with what anxious attention and
care we have followed every step
you have advanced, and how.
proud we are that every step was
in advance, and not retreat; that
every time you set your face
in any direction, you kept your
face in that direction.
4 thrill has gone through my
heart. as IL has gone through the
heart of every American, with
almost every gun that was fired
and every stroke that was struck
in the gallant fighting that you
have done. and there has been
only one regret in America, and
that was the regret that every
man there felt that he was not
here in France. too.
Have Deserved Trust.
IT has been a hard thing to per.
form the tasks in the United
States: IL has been a hard thing
TO take part in directing what
you did without coming over and
helping you to do it. 1t has taken
a lot of moral courage to stay at
home. But we are proud to back
you up everywhere that Il was
possible to back you up. And
now ] am happy to find what
splendid names you have made
for yourselves among the civilian
population Of France. as well as
among your comrades in the
armies OF the French, and IL is
fine testimony To you men that
these people like you and love
YOU and trust you. and the finest
part of it all is that you deserve
their trust.
] feel a comradeship with you
today. which Is delightful. as
look down upon these undisturbed
fields and think OF the terrible
scenes through which You have
gone and realize how the quiet Of
peace. the tranquility Of settled
hopes has descended upon US.
And. while II is hard far away
from home confidentlally to bid
you a Merry Christmas, can.
think. confidentially. promise you
n happy New Year. and can
from the bottom of my heart say
God bless you.