Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-23
OUR AMERICAN FRIENDS

Gustave Rodriguez, French
writer who has made for his coun-
trymen special study of the United
States, has recently published book
in Paris about the Americans, en-
titled The People of Action" In
Scribner's Magazine, NJ. Rodriguez
adds to the impressions recorded in
this book. The following par
agraphs are extracted:
To German Imperialism, to that
final return to their ancestral bar
barism which we thought we could
look upon as definitely checked by
civilization, the United States in
heXibly opposes the great dam of
its men, it's armament and its gold.
1t says TO this devlish force: Thou
shalt go no further. 1t is forcing
it back, and forever, into the dark
ness of the Middle Ages from which
by an incomprehensible anarchon-
ism it burst forth to lay waste the
world.
This does not belong to our day."
NJ. Clemenceau, now premier of
France, wrote in an article in
L'Homme Libre just after the war
broke out. This does not belong
Wilson, and with it's President spoke
the whole American Union; and it is
our day. that has just brought
into being the young American
Army, the army of liberty, to drive
back the day of +he past, the day of
medivel slavery. = In con-
junction with the other Allied COM
batants it has checksd at its first
blow the German force, and to-
morrow it will shatter 1t.
Toward our country especially
the United States has shown an ad-
mirable devotion, and L may add
delicacy. 1t has given in profusion,
as is the custom, and in giving 1t
has taken the attitude not of a
benefactor, but of one fulfilling an
obligation. The American has
one virtue and a rare one-he re-
members services that have been
done him; he is never ungrateful.
I'VE of the United States are a
grateful nation" said General ALA
ire, provost marshal of the American
forces in France. Lafayette and
Rochambeau are names that an
American speaks with reverence and
affection, are heroes whose memory
he cherishes in his heart. And, as
his fashion is, he is bringing back
to you hundred fold that which he
received from you. >"
The United States expects that
which we are able to give her and
which we shall bring to her joy
fully mean the culture de
resprit," that refinement of thought
which has always been an attribute
of the French race. To replace the
German teachers in her universities,
she appeals to ours. Young and sun
without pretension, she believes that
she can get at our school that when
she lacks, and that to make the
complete man she can add TO her
qualities of action and of matter OF
factness the charm and, as 1t Were'
the perfume of French culture.
Thus there is everything to expect
and everything to hope not only for
the two nations but for all civiliza-
tion from a Franco-American reap
proachment-and even more from
Franco intimacy. This
reapproachment and this intimacy
come about by the very nature of
things, and they will become every
day more real. They arouse on all
hands. besides efforts at practical
realization, other attempts at propa-
ganda of which what l have writ
ten is only a very inconsiderable
sample. The future, we may be
sure. belongs to a great union of
free peoples, and at the head of
this union we may look to see es-
pecially the two great peoples
which. one in the Old World and
one in the New, have been the un-
questioned champions of the right
of man and of the rights of ma
tions.
This is what I desire to say of our
American friends.