New-York tribune., 1918-12-03
Benediction


vealed himself so clearly. He speaks
as one who moves rapidly toward the
summit of a prodigious career. He will
reach it unassisted. His gaze is stead
fast and his hands are ready to be out
stretched
His followers will be deeply moved,
and it is impossible for the agnostics
and infdels not to be fascinated, aston
ished, even little bit awed, by so much
, pure imperturbability in the petulant
face of jealous democracy.
To the august Senate that had been
raging at his neglect of it's powers, to
; the House of Representatives that had
: been threatening to heckle him in public
to Democrats and Republicans, to all the
people that had been demanding to be
told his imperative reasons for going in
+, person to Europe, to the American de-
mocracy, in short, he says:
BE calm. go to prepare peace
jon you--o1ld jor the wl1ole acorld.
This meaning comes at the end of
long address in which first he apportions
merit and praise among those who won
the war-fghters, workers, thinkers,
men and women. There are then few
practical things to be spoken of. No
plan of transition from war to peace has
emerged Therefore, the problems of So
called reconstruction will have to be left
to the quick resourcefulness of the people.
IN their own interests. There is no plan
about the railroads, either. Mr.. Nc
Adoo's finance plans are sound and Mr..
Lanes scheme for settling unskilled
labor on the land is excellently recon-
mended to the consideration of the Con-
gress.
And now may he not welcome the oc
casion to say why it is the paramount
duty of the President of the United
States to go to Paris? 1t is very SIM
pie. The Allied governments, having
accepted his "bases of peace" namely
the fourteen conditions, now "yerv rea-
;sonably desire my personal counsel in
their Interpretation and application"
The American people have very rea
sonably been desiring their Presidents
counsel in the same way, and vet there
is no Interpretation of such vital points
among the fourteen as freedom of the
seas and Equality of trade" There Is
'hoeed' no settled, no authoritative defni-
ton OF what Mr. Wilson means bv a
league OF nations; yet he believes that
ne goes to Europe, over the protest of
his people, to interpret the "principles
and purposes" of this country.
1t will be said that he could not de-
line his objectives publicly without en-
barrassing or limiting discussion at the
Peace conference, but if that be true one
OF his fourteen points goes down. name
y, the one which stipulates for "cove-
nants of peace openly arrived att Shall
the principles Of perfect peace at last be
defined in secret?
But Mr.. Wilson is impatient with those
who are continually requiring definitions
and textual certitudes. His mind func-
tions with principles. Its attitude tow
ard his errand in Europe cannot be
altered by criticism or analogy, for it is
Aan emotional attitude. This is revealed
fully in the exhortation at the end, which
reads:
May
now hope, gentlemen of the Congress,
that in the delicate tasks
l shall have to perform on the other side
~ of the sea. in my efforts truly and faith
~ fully to interpret the principles and pur-
poses of the country we love,
! may have the encouragement and the
aGdeG strength OF your united support?
! realize the magnitude and the difficulty
OF the duty
am undertaking.
am poignantly aware of its grave re-
sponsbilities.
am the servant of the nation
can have 20 private thought or purpose