Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-13
HISTORY STAGES A NEW
DRAMA TO-DAY IN FRANCE
No Lesste or Ruler OH Foreign Soil Ever
Assumed Role Analogous TO
Mr., Wilson's

Mr.. Wilson's
TRAVELING on the George Washing
- ton, Mr.. Wilson is "constructively' on
American SOIL His high adventure
begins today when he sets foot on French
earth.
Whether his presence there will cause
to be garnered the full fruits of vividly
expressed idealism, whether they be
blighted or realized only in part are
prospects too close to mankind's imper-
feet vision to permit of safe augury.
The tone of every forecast as to what
will happen in Paris is necessarily COL
ored by temperamental tendencies. Pas
sonate anticipation that awful memory
of the war will so possess the souls OF
the destiny makers that international
armed strife will forever become an i'm
possibility stirs millions Of hearts today.
There are skeptics also who know how
swiftly mankind forgets, how the sham
bles which the Napoleonic ambition
made of many fair town and country
side in Europe taught the selfish in
triguants Of the Congress Of Vienna in
1914 absolutely nothing, how they be-
trayed civilization at crisis in many
ways analogous to the present one.
And there are meliorists--sane folk on
the whole-who hope for betterment be-
cause the world through history and for
all its tragic perversity affords evidences
Of a groping forward toward the light.
They envisage not that radiant and elu-
siye supreme Justice to which Plato him
self was unable to give working defini-
ton, but adjustment, practical, not igno-
Bile. compromise, authoritative recon-
struction Of the body polite. the body
social.
A few months will demonstrate what
hopes or fears or what blend Of the two
were justified. The greatest mundane
drama ever enacted. to which the war
was but tremendous prelude. is about
to be played through. Many of its eli
makes are unimaginable, but at least the
first curtain is lifted. It rises today
when the President of the United States
opens an unprecedented scene with a
pulse quickening demolition Of precedent.
Though analogies to the situation may
be drawn they are imperfect. Yet per-
haps for that very reason they intensity
the importance of memorable day.
Franklin is in one picture. Up to now
few legates in history have ever so pro-
foundly affected its course with a venture
abroad as did the indefatigable nurse OF
An infant democracy. Bourbon France
succumbed to his prodigious magnetism
Assistance in money and eventually in
men and ships came to the aid Of the
struggling young republic as result of
his unfagging efforts.
It was marvellous achievement, but
the parallel with Mr.. Wilson's situation
cannot be accurately traced. Franklin
held exalted Office during that richly re-
munerative visit to Paris in 1776. The
scene was unstaged for him. He was,
as matter of fact, originally unsought,
save by a few enthusiasts.
Deeply desired by all patriots and the
inspiration Of the most splendid and I'M
pressive preparations was Lafayette
when America, a generation after the
Revolution, had attained already ma
tional maturity. But that unforgettable
visit was devoid of political significance
| It was a jubilee Of gratitude, not posi-
| BILE index of momentous future accom-
| plishment.