The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-31
America Must Lead.

"On Aug. %, 1918, in delivering a
speech in this body, Senator Lodge,
amQpg. other things, said:
1.-THE United States occupies virtual
ly a position in which she will be able
10 speak with a powerful voice, We
seek no territory, no material gain for
our country, We seek only the safety
OF civilization and freedom, and the
assurance OF u own absolute indie
pendence and our right to live our own
lives and settle our own problems in
our own way. There ~ nc territory by
which we could be bribed or Influenced
no trade advantage by which We could
be tempted. There Isl no personal
profit which can turn US from our one
great object
These words were the words of wis
dom. Mr.. President. II Is conceded by
all thoughtful persons that the ensuing
peace conference Will be the most i'm
portant gathering, the most epochal
council Of men tina ever assembled to-
gether in the worlds history. The re
suit % this conference win either mean
a permanent IN an enduring world
peace, or II will be but the prelude and
the Indictment to other wars. II calm.
deliberate and dtsiuterestcd counsel
prevails, the world viii never see again
such a horrible c%ataClysm Of war as it
has Witnessed since August, 1914. GA
the other hand, If doubt, If distruEt, II
national or international j%ealousies, or
national or international greed, or II
spirit Of national or international in
Justice prevails, then, whatever the re-
suit of the council, II viii be but a
short time before the unavoidable hap
pens and the nations will be at war
again,
"Mr. President. America must take
the lead IN bringing about a just peace
and a righteous settlement OF ali the
controversies in this war or which have
grown out Of this war, for the reasons
that were so splendidly stated by Sen
Ator Lodge IN that part OF his speech
quoted above. l say America must lead
not solely because | believe America is
better than any other nation, though |
do believe that. but more particularly
because America Is so situated that
she can best take the lead, As Senator
Lodge so well pointed out, she Is viz
tually asking for nothing In this war.
she Is asking for no territory, She IL
asking for 40 indemnity; She Is asking
for nothing except the right to work
out her own destiny In her own way,
and that every other nation, great or
small, shall have precisely the same
right, Her attitude throughout this
world war has been altruistiC In the eX-
IRENE. She entered the war with the
most exalted of purposes, She entered
the wal in defense of her own rights
on tho seas and 10 prevent all Chris
tiaH civilization, including her own,
from being obliterated from the earth.
Under these favorable circumstances,
therefore, America is IN a peculiar po-
Rition that no other Of the great ma
tions Is in, Each and every one Of
the other ~helliRerents has selfish inter
eStS at stake. They are making do
mands for Indemnity. &'hey are asking
restitution Of territory. They are seek
ing larger rights. and therefore they
are not IN a position as America Is To
fight for these principles Nand ideals
which caused America to go into the
war and which have brought about
the successful prosecution Of the. war.