Middletown transcript., 1918-07-13

Washington.--From the shadow Of
Washington's tomb President Wilson
on the Fourth of July offered Amer
ica's Declaration OF Independence to
the people of the world, with pledge
that the United States and its Allies
will not sheathe the sword in the war
against the Central Powers until there
Is settled, "once for all" for the world,
what was settled for America in 1776.
President Wilson's speech at Mount
Vernon was as follows:
Gentlemen of the Diplomatic Corps
and my Fellow Citizens:
am happy to draw apart with
you to this quiet place of old counsel
in order to speak little Of the
meaning of this day of our nations
independence The place seems very
still and remote. 1t is as serene and
untouched by the hurry of the world
as it was in those great days long
ago, when General Washington was
here and held leisurely conference
with the men who were 10 be asso-
ciated with him in the creation of
nation. From these gentle slopes they
looked out upon the world and saw
st as a whole, saw it with the light of
the future upon it, saw it with modern
eyes that turned away from past
which men of liberated spirits could
no longer endure. 1t is for that rea-
son that we cannot feel, even here,
In the immediate presence of this
sacred tomb, that this is Il place OF
death. It was place of achievement.
A great promise that was meant for
all mankind was here given plan and
reality. The associations by which
We are surrounded are the in
spring associations OF that noble
death which is only glorious con.
summation 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.
Spoke For A People.
1t is significant-signifcan of their
own character and purpose and of the
influences they were setting afoot-
that Washington and his associates,
like the barons at Runnymede, spoke
and acted, not for a class. but for a
people, 1t has been left for us to see
TO it that it shall be understood that
they spoke and acted not for a single
people only, but for all mankind. They
we're thinking, not of themselves and
Of the material interests which cen
tered in the little groups of landhold
ers and merchants and men of affairs
with whom they were accustomed to
act, in Virginia and the colonies to the
north and south of her, but of peo-
pie which wished to be done with
classes and special interests and the
authority of men whom they had no.
themselves chosen to rule over them.
They entertained no private purpose
desired no peculiar privilege. They
were consciously planning that men
of every class should be free and
America a place to which men out
OF every nation might resort who
wished to share with them the rights
and privileges of free men. And We
take our cue from them--dO we not?
We intend what they intended. We
here in America believe our partici-
patton in this present war to be only
the fruitage of what they planted. Cur
case differs from theirs only in this,
that it is our inestimable privilege to
concert with men out of every nation
what shall make not only the liberties
of America secure but the liberties of
every other people as well. We are
happy in the thought that We are per-
mitted to do what they would have
done had they been in our place.
It Must Be Settled Now.
There must now be settled once
for all what was settled for America
in the great age upon whose inspira.
fion we draw today. This is surely a
fitting place from which calmly to
look out upon our task, that. we may
fOrtify our spirits for its accomplish
ment. And this is the appropriate
place from which to avow. alike to
the friends who look on and to the
friends with whom we have the hap