The Evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1917-1920, 1918-06-18
FORCE is THE ONLY MEANS
OF ENDING PRUSSIANISM

Following is an address delivered b.
Secretary of State Lansing at lunch
con of the alumni Of Columbia Uni
versity June 5, 1918:
am deeply sensible of the homo
which has been done to me today b!
this great university, an honor which
confers upon me the title of an alum
nus of Columbia and gives me thu
privilege to be present on this occa
| sion.
This recognition Of public service il
in my opinion, the highest form o.
recompense which an American either
can receive. How great or how lit.
tie may be the real value of the serv.
ice rendered by one who is called
upon in these critical days to share
the responsibilities of Government
do not believe can now be determined
1t is only as we leave behind us the
scenes through which we are living
and in which we are actors and can
weigh accomplishments with impartial
minds that we will gain true con-
ception of their worth.
If in the future, when the whole
panorama of this war is before you,
your judgment as to the rightfulness
of having conferred upon me this de-
gree remains unchanged / will find
in the memory of the present occasion
of an even greater satisfaction than
that which l have today 1t is MY
ernest hope that l may deserve your
continued appreciation, and you may
feel assured that l will endeavor to
merit the confidence which Columbia
University has so graciously shown
me.
Stands With World DemOcracies.
Today this Republic stands with the
democracies of the earth arrayed in
battle against the most relentless
enemy of human liberty which the ages
have produced. To save this country
of ours and to save the civilized world
from Prussianism has become the su-
preme duty of the American people
and of all other people who love JUS
tice and freedom.
In this titanic struggle we are Joined
not only with France, our historic ally,
but also with Great Britain, our
ancient foe. On the blood-stained
fields of France we three, together
with Italy, Belgium, and Portugal, are
standing shoulder to shoulder against
the plunderers. Our traditional friend
ship for France, which can never be
forgotten, and our traditional enmity
for Great Britain, which is forgotten,
are swallowed up in this supreme
crisis of liberty, our common heritage.
The grave perils to our lives as ma
tions unite us with bonds of steel as
our armies face the foe of all man
kind.
Proud of Associates in the War
1 am proud that in these terrible,
days we are associated with the te-
nacious warriors of Britain; l am
proud that with our blood we can, on
French soil, prove the affection which
we cherish for the French people; +
am proud that Italy, superb in her
determined resistance, is our partner
in this. conflict, and that the indomita-
BILE spirit of the Belgians and Serbs is
a living inspiration to gallant deeds
and noble sacrifice; 1 am proud, as l
know every American is proud, to be
thus united with the nations which
hate Prussianism and loathe the evil
desires which it engenders in the
hearts Of men.
Prussianism has appealed to the
sword, and by the sword Prussianism
must fall. 1t is the divine law of re-
tribution which we, as the instruments
Of justice, must enforce so that the
world may be forever rid of this
1t is not only my purpose to discuss
he means by which this duty is to
be done, but wish to direct your at
.ention to two things which may di- |
vert our thoughts and interrupt our |
'ull effort unless we appreciate the |
Of funwisely giving heed |
% them. The obstacles of which we
must beware the criticism at home, |
which are not constructive, and sug-
yestions of peace, which are based |
lpon the perpetuation of Prussianism.
Waste no Time in Vain Regrets.
When time is so vital to success, let |
Is not waste these precious days in
rain regrets and complaints over that
which has been done or has not been
lone Let us not continually look be-
lind to see where we stumbled, but let |
Is look forward so we will not stumble
gain. Criticisms of the past are worse
han worthless; they are almost GRIM
nal, unless they point better way
or the future.
/ believe that the American people
are very little for what should have
'een done compared with what should
'e done. For the critic of public af-
airs who is manifestly inspired by
'olitical or selfish motives, by conceit,
II by a desire for notoriety, l have
contempt. Let us, for the
resent at least. disregard the mistake i