The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-10

portunity. They can be realized only
by the determination of what the
thinking peoples OF the world desire
with their longing hope for justice and
for social freedom and opportunity" :"
The presidents speech I'm full was
as follows:
"Gentlemen Of the diplomatic corps
aud my fellow citizens:
Il am happy to draw apart with
you To this quiet place of old counsel
In order to speak a little of the mean
ing OF this day of our nations inde-
pendence. The place seems very still
and remote. IL is as serene and un-
touched by the hurry of the world as
u was I'm those great days long ago
when General Washington was here
and held leisurely conference with the
men who were TO be associated with
him I'm the creation Of nation.
From these gentle slopes they looked
out upon the world and saw II whole,
stw IL with the light OF the future upon
IL, saw IL with modern eyes that turn
ed away from past which men Of
liberated spirits could no longer en-
dore. IL Is for that reason that we
cannot feel. even here i'm the imme.
diate presence OF this sacred tomb
that this is n place of death. 1t was
a place of achievements. A great
promise that was meant for all man.
Kind was here given plan and reality.
The associations by which we are here
surrounded are the inspiriting asso-
4 ciations OF that noble death which is
only glorious contamination. From
this green hillside we also ought to
be able TO see with comprehending
eyes the world that lies about us and
should conceive anew the PURPOSES
that must set men free.
'lt is ignIncant-signIncant of
their own character and purpose and
o. the influences they were setting
afoot-that Washington and his asso-
tiates. like the barons at Runnymede.
spoke and acted. not for a class. but
for people. II has been left for us
TO see TO II that II shall be understood
that they spoke and acted. not for
single people only but for all man
Kind. They were thinking, not of
themselves or OF the material inter-
ests which centered I'm the little
groups OF landholders and merchants
and men or affairs with whom they
were accustomed to act, I'm Virginia
and the colonies to- the north and
south OF her. but or people which
~tshed to be done with classes and
special interests and the authority OF
men whom they had not themselves
chosen to rule over them. They en-
tertained no private purpose. desired
no peculiar privilege. They were
consciously planning that men of ev-
cry class should bc free and America
a place 90 which men out OF every ma
tIon might resort who wished to share
with them the rights and privileges OF
them.-do we not? We intend what
they Intended. We here I'm America
believe our participation i'm this pres
ent war To be only the fruitage OF
what they planted. our case differs
from theirs only I'm this. that IL is our
inestlrhable privilege To concert with
men out OF every nation what shall
make not only the liberties of Amer
lea secure but the liberties of every
other people as we'll We are happy |
I'm the thought that we are permitted |
10 do what they would have done had
they been In our place. There must
now be settled once for all what
was settled for America i'm the great
age upon whose inspiration we draw
today This is surely fitting place
from which calmly TO look out upon
our task. that we may fortfy our spir- |
It's for Its accomplishment. And this
Ia the appropriate place from which
10 avow. alike to the friends who look
on and To- the friends with whom we
have the happiness To he associated I'm
ac:' n. the faith and purpose with
which we act.
This. then. Is our conception of
the great struggle i'm which we are
engaged. The plot Is written plain
upon every scene and every act of
the suDrcme frapedv I'm tho ono
hand stand the peoples OF the world.
not only the peoples actually en-
gagged. but many other also who sur
fer under mastery but cannot act;