Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-11-08
THE MEANING OF VICTORY

The United States have been at war for nineteen
and during that comparatively brief period have
merited and received the acclaim Of the Allies and the
admiration Of their enemies. The soldiers
of General Pershing are at this moment standing at the
Threshold Of final victory, and the home lines back
OF the trenches are feeling the exuberant thrill of the
glory of the conqueror.
Yet, American soldiers are not to claim one square
inch Of foreign soil as theirs. They will not annex new
territory or demand any Of the spoils traditionally be-
longing to the victor, for they went to war with no ma
terialstic gains as their object.
America went to war on behalf of deals-and it is
almost the first time in the worlds history that. this can
be said Of any nation. OF course, countries have gone
to war and fought for certain ideals which were by nd
means to be despised, but az q rule they have been more
or less closely affiliated with aim Of preserving intact
a strip OF land, or similar localized interests.
There is this difference between the American par,
ticipatton in the world war and the fighting Of most
other nations. that the United States declared war for
the sake Of a principle. for the sake of altruistic ideals
which. conquerins. would benefit all the world and all
posterity, and, defeated. would contribute to the decay
Of a carefully built-up civilization.
Not so very long ago ideals were considered too In
tangible to be of any value except to dreamers and ideah
lists. This view has undergone q decided change. and
now the exalted ideals Of all nations,are looked at as con-
crete facts Of more real value than any others.
The meaning Of American victory is that the United
States accomplished what was intended to be accom-
plished, and that the new view of the value of national
and international ideals will prevail long after the smoke
has drifted away from the battlefields.
There never has been any real fear that the Amer
leans would be defeated. There may have been dark
days when the prospects momentarily looked gloomy and
discouraeins, but back Of such brief depression the fire.
pressible optimism Of the American survived and he
never saw any clouds without silver>linings.
The great meaning Of victory is that 1t has definite
" and effectively demonstrated to everyone that the
American people consider ideals worth fighting for and.
II need be. dying for. The immortal principles upon which
the nation was conceived ana conserved, are still under
lying it today as its fundamental supports, and even
though there have been times where other interests
might divert attention from this fact, the war has made
them alive. has rejuvenated. the idealism Of Americans
and established It as one of the factors with which the
rest Of the world in the future must reckon.
At . time when the nation Is adjusting itself to 4
Of the success 1t has won, It behooves Il to
take thought, solemnly and quietly. and to reflect that
the victory IL ono of far greater Significance than il the
merely military victofy. for it has been conclusfvely e.
that there is something higher, something more
lasting than the fleeting values to which man often be-
comes a~ttached-namely; national and individual self
respect preserved throughout the most trying period in
the countrys history. To understand this Is to look 1t
the Ideals In : true manner md in a perspective which
does not deceive.
Lie: "a nearly = ! can determine a.d III.
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