Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-16
The Great Reward
New York Evening Post.

To have lived to see this day fills up the
measure OF the happiness OF uncounted millions
The thrill which runs through the American
people vibrates in the hearts OF men everywhere
Even in Germany, the sense OF new day hav-
ing come tor the broadest human rights must
help to assuage the bitterness OF humatng
defeat and abJect surrender. For it is more
than a great military victory that the world is
celebrating 1t is the majestic triumph OF ideas.
Two systems of government rather than armies,
have been locked in death-grapple tor tour
years, and the system which now lies IN IRE
parable ruin had long been an anachronism and
an otfense in this modern world OF which the
breath of life is liberty and free set-express1on:
1t is clear now that the subjects-or victims-ot
herman military autocracy never really believed
in it, though they were forced to submit to it.,
and the speed and joy with which they have
seized the opportunity to throw Oft its hated
bonds are fresh proof OF the terrorism IN which
they had been held, soul and body. So that it
is not merely the crashing into the dust OF the
German military machine that we rejoice over
today, but the grinding into powder OF German
autocratic government. We celebrate not alone
the glory OF our arms, but the greater glory OF
the uncomfortable mind OF freemen.
Standing today at the climax of Our hopes,
and with the rich reward of all our sacrihces
now in secure possession, we cannot tail to
summon our gratitude where it is due 1t flows
to England, which endured = rain OF terrible
blows without whimper, and watched out the
dark hours with never thought Of quitting till
the labor laid upon it was done. We are CRATE
full to the heroic Belglans and the dauntless
French. who fought our fight for us and kept
the faith Italy and Greece and Serbia come in
TOR our unfelgned thanks But Americans will
naturally save their warmest gratitude tor those
OF their own kin and country who took up the
burden of battle for liberty, and who gave and
IoI a,l klak %ha. ,%Lx
be free The wonderful outpouring OF Amer
lean youth, who bent their necks TO the yoke
OF discipline and made as fine soldiers as ever
desplsed death in the murk of the battlefield
who that has witnessed this grand spectacle can
ever forget it, or cease to thank God tor this
proof OF the noble stuff of which our young
manhood is made? AS for the men and women
boys and girl, who devoted their brains and
their wealth and their work to the supporting
activities OF the war. there is no need to rise up
and call them blessed, for they have felt them
selves such all along in their forgetting self and
wreakng themselves in willing labors for their
country and for humanity. After all, our deep
est gratitude must be collective. 1t is for the
people as whole, with their readiness, every
man in his place, to do what was necessary to
see the grim business through and with their
simple but sublime faith in democracy, which
all through the struggle has shown no shadow
of turning
To individual leaders the full need of praise
will be given. Now that partisan jealousies and
preJudices are temporarily extinguished, Amer
leans Of all parties will take an honest pride in
their president, whom all the nations are &C
claiming. Whatever else may be said of him.
it cannot be denied that by him, at least during
the last year and half, the nations hope and
the worlds desire have been given singularly
apt and powerful expression No American
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heritage of worldwide fame as has the man
who, eight years ago, was simply an American
teacher, Woodrow Wilson. Fit to stand with
him have been our commanders in the field and
on the sea. Unpretentious, modest, but terri
bly, resolute and efficient, General Pershing has
been an ideal head of our army in France Nor
will Americans soon forget the splendid quail
ties shown by the British commandment chief,
whom the hurricane could batter. but could not
break. OF the supreme commander, Marshal
Foch, it is only necessary to say that he has
made for himself an immortal name. To the
highest military genius he unites a mind and
spirit that compel admiration to the verge of
idolizing. The fact that not one vulgar or brag-
gart-word has come from him in the course of
his magnificent success shows the good taste of
a true gentleman and the poise of a hrm-set
soul. In Ferdinand Foch is surely realized the
vision of the Happy Warrior, whom every man
in arms would wish to be.
Over the other side, charity would be
prompted to draw veil. Autocracy dies igno-
bly,. Even the tinse Napoleon III cut better
figure after the first Sedan than the kaiser does
after the second. Napoleon at least sought to
die at the head of his troops. William II sinks
away to exile. The staggering monarch who
made the world tremble with his angry threats,
and used to speak blasphemously Of his being
the vice regent of the Almighty, leaves the scene
like discharged hostler What would the &C
cusing spirit of Bismarck say today to the man
who has made fools work of the splendid in
heritance which the creator Of German unity
built up?
Cele brate we will, rejoice we must, but in all
the outbursts of popular joy it is easy to detect
SOLDERING note. We have attained our desired
haven earlier than our fondest hopes, but we can
still see stormy waters to be crossed. The
whole work of reconstruction and of healing lies
before US. 1t will tax our best craftsmanship
and try the temper of our people. But we may
rest calm and cheerful in the assurance that a
nation capable of doing what ours has done
within the last two years will not be lacking in
either the patriotism or the ability to front sue
cessfully the giant difficulties which peace will
L.s. -,