Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-17
Text of Wilson's Response
To Frances Greet1ag

has allowed you to see, while yet
they lived, the greatness of tina
monument they were building.
From the other side of the
world you have spoken in ad-
vance of the judgment of his
tory. What a source of strength
was it for these fighters sudden
" to hear your voice, in its dis
tant authority resembling the
voice of posterity; what JOY 10
welcome those new brothers in
arms Fastening with ardor TO
claim at the critical hour their
place upon the field of battle;
what comfort for them TO feel
that they were hencetorth array
ed with the glorious army OF
General Pershing, the victor or
the Argonne.
Thus Paris, eager to see in the
flesh the man it had known only
by his written words and by his
image. today, lives over again
with poignant intensity, the his
tory of Americas decision as 1t
was unfolded in your conscience
before the eyes of the world.
Profoundly moved by the mag
nificent generosity with which
our compatriots had set them
selves to relieve sufferings, with
what anxious yet confident eX-
pectation did we follow the prog
ress of your thought and of your
feelings. Beneath the deliberate
" measured tone of your notes
and messages we felt little the
mounting of righteous anger.
What was then our daZzled ad-
miration when there burst upon
us the message of April ,, 1917,
which gave to the questioningS OIL
the American conscience their
supreme concern and. in Pascafs
words, brought together justice
and force to decide for long
centuries the fate of all human
ity.
Citadel OF A1pe6bS
We are proud, Mr.. President,
to offer you welcome in the
name of this capital. Intellec-
tual tradition lifts US eternally
towards the truths of new day.
Our country is not alone that
well-ioyed land for whose lib
Grafton the blood of sons of the
union is mingled with that OF
the sons of France. Our coun-
try to us means also right or
heritage, Justice, good sense and
honor; and because you come to
us in the name of these noble
things, today we dare to call
you citizen of Paris.
Take, then, Mr.. President, the
sincere good wishes Of our city,
Yesterday under the menace or
the Berthas and the Gothas, a
citadel of the liberties Of the
world; but today open to all noble
and generous ideas and enthu-
siasticaIly acclaiming in the great
citizen she has the honor to re-
ceiye the embodiment of new
ideal which comes to her.
NJ. Moautraud's Speech
NJ. Moautraud. project of the Seine
addressing the president said:
Mr.. President, a day memo
rable beyond all is that on which,
for the first time. a chief of the
great American republic crosses
the threshold of our hotel De
Vile. None among your Illus
trious predecessors, not even
those most deeply venerated for
their genius and their virtues,
came to sit for an instant at the
hearts of the people of Paris.
Thus in mourning the death OF
George Washington and Abraham
Lincoln, our fathers had felt a
deep regret that they could rem
der but a posthumous homage to
the great men who had been the
object of their enthusiastic vene-
ration. The joy which this visit
gives US is of a precious sort.
Today we need no longer seek
to imagine your features for we
see them. nor the sound OF your
voice, for we hear it. 1t is given
US to express in your very pres
ence our gratitude and admira-
ton. As the terrible drama has
dragged its bloody way over land
and sea, your generous heart has
beat in unison with the misery
suffered. and has taxed itself to
find succor for unhappiness.
How can we count ever the
innumera bic benefits of American
charity, SO vigilant, SO methodi-
cal and so wise? Through this
charity, the sufferings Of our
prisoners have been alleviated
and the specter. of mamine has
been turned back from the invad-
ed regions of Belgium ana
France. Not many days since
we welcomed here the American
Red Cross, which in all the
provinces Of well doing have per-
formed prodigies, whose work
has been a spectacle without pre-
CCuSuL III It's IGduAN anu anu
eur. We have seen the women
enrolled by the million in this
army of human pity. The debt
we owe them will not be wiped
out by centuries of gratitude, and
we bow respectfully before those
ladies who personify them at this
moment, and who do US the true
honor to share with you our
hospitality. Yet while you have
given yourself passionateIy to
the task of assuaging the ills OF
war, your noblest title to glory
will vet be that YOU stood Up as
the champion of the cause OF
justice.
Apart From War
How many things seemed to
hold you apart from the dread
full conflict. Your intellectual
training as lawyer. historian and
thinker: that peaceful life OF
study in which TO use your own
phrase. you had known no other
labor than the world of books.
the traditions of the country
which had elected YOU to guide
and direct it: the admirable fare
we'll message of Washington
warning his successors in power
against any participation in such
struggles as might break out in
Europe Well might Germany
belieev that you would remain