The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-12-30
CZECHS CHEER
WILSON'S NAME
National Assembly Of New
Republic Applauds High
Tribute to America.
"ALWAYS COUNT ON u.s."
Says President Masaryk, in
Gratitude to England and
United States.


The Hague, Dec. 30.-Preoident
Masaryk, in his first message TO the
national assembly OF the Czecho-
Slovak republic, paid a high tribute
to President Wilson and the Ameri-
can people In their aid In overthrow
ing the Hapsburg rule. The mention
of the presidents name was followed
by an ovation in the chamber. Presi-
dent Masaryk delivered his speech as
the first president of the democratic
republic in an apartment which still
bears the traces of the former splen-
dor with which the Hapsburgs sur
rounded themselves at the cost OF the
| downtrodden peoples. In the audience
there were, besides the members OF
| the national assembly. cabinet min
listers and diplomatic representatives
of the allied nations. In the course
| of his speech. President Masaryk
| said:
"Komendky's historic prayer has
| literally been fulfilled and our people.
free and independent, advance re-.
| spected and supported by universal
sympathy into the community OF
European nations. Are we living IN
| a fairy tale? Politicians of all coune
I tries are asking this. / put the same
question to myself, and yet 1t Is all
| an actual reality. The world Is split
| into two camps. In the frightful con-
! fiict these have conquered who de-
| Tended the ideals of justice. The
| idealists conquered. Spirit triumphed
over matter; right over force: truth
over cunning. When the German vic
tories seemed about to realize the
pam German plan OF the subsection
| of the whole of the old world, Amer
| lea stepped out OF its reserve, re-
| placed weary and betrayed Russia,
! and within short time Marshal
Foch dictated terms to beaten Ger
many and Austria Hungary.
Suoeumhsd to Democracy.
4 '"Theocratsc., autocr.cy has Euc-
cimbed to ,,emocracy resting M, .
basis of humanitarian morality.
| Prussianism, Austrianism and the
rest were not merely geographically
united, there was an inner accord
ance of relationship between these
survivals of medieval theocracy.
Against thom grouped themselves the
modern democracies. The nonmill-
tarist democracies defended the
ideals of humanity. Prussian mill
tarism and the German military spe-
cialists' carefully thought out prep
aration and calculated attack have
not withstood the logical consequence
proclaimed by the allies OF the right
of all states and peoples, not only
the great, but the small, to autonomy.
| President Wilson formulated the
/ leading principle Of democracy. which
is contained in the American declara-
tion of independence. where. as In
| the French declarations of the rights
of man, revolution triumphed over
legitimist torpidity, and established
that all political power comes from
the people. or. as Lincoln said, is of
the people, by the people and for the
people
Czeehs Had to Decide.
president Wilson proclaimed as
the object Of the war the liberation
Of all mankind. All humanity united
itself against the central powers. We
Czechs and Slovaks could not stand
aside in this world war We were
| obliged to decide against Austria
Hungary and Germany. for our whole
history. its content meaning, led us
to democratic powers"
After describing his own efforts
during the first months of the war
in Austria and Germany. where he
sought the advice of political friends,
as well as in Italy, Russia, Holland
and Switzerland, Masaryk told Of the
impossibility Of. returning to Prague
in December, 1914, since when he has
been around tho world preaching the
Czecho- Slovak cause. He continued:
"In May of last year was obliged to
go to Russia, whence I went to Japan,
and from Japan to the United States.
whence. after seven months, l re-
turned nominated by our government.
after four years, as the first presi-
dent of the Czecho- Slovak republic
remarkable and unexpected jour-
ney around the world-verily prop
aganda journey, winning the whole
world for our national cause and po-
litical program, of which the shatter-
ing OF Austria- Hungary constituted
an essential part. We organized far
beyond our frontiers and in all our
emigrant colonies conducted a we'll
considered oral and literary propa-
ganda of diplomatic activity. Poll
tics. especially Of revolution. Is not
ossible without money. Our people
in America and Russia helped us.
expressly state that we took not one
kreuZer from the allies, but volun-
teers were soon forthcoming from all
ountries-England. America, Can
ada, Africa, Australia.
| Tribute to Heroes Of Army.
"In the spring Of this year our
army In Russia was estimated at
$4,000 armed men. The national Or
ganization is surpassed only by the
courage, love of freedom. self sacri-
fee and fidelity to the nation. can
not refrain from paying tribute to
our heroes who have fallen In Rus
sia, Dobrudja, France, Italy and Sa-
loniki. who prepared our liberation.
Czech graves are in all belligerent
countries. Our sacred army, fight
ing on three fronts. won us victory.
The history OF the foreign action.
especially our army in Its battles and
| its heroism, the history of the Sibe-
rian anabasis. all this way well form
rich educational epoch for future
generations. All Of the allied powers
turned towards us with sympathy.
know not whom ! ought to thank
| first. 1t Is natural that the recogni-
tion by England and tho United
States, the two greatest of the allied
powers. has helped us greatly. The
/ United States guaranteed from their
wealth abundant help. and we have
from them a definite promise for the
| future. President Wilson himself
has devoted sincere attention to our
| question and we are Obliged to him
| and the allied powers. They can al
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