Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-09
Wilson, in Independence Day
Speech at Mount Vernon,
Offers American Freedom for
the Entire World

IIl6 ETlllI6 WOIIU
MOUNT VERNON. Va. July 5.-Pres-
ident Wilson yesterday answered all
feelers for compromise peace, with
new and unqualified conservation of
America to the struggle for cleaning
military autocracy from the earth.
At an Independence day gathering on
The gentle slopes of Mount Vernon.
home and tomb of George Washington.
and surrounded by scenes which looked
upon the creation of this nation, the
president addressed a small gathering
OF officials and of diplomats of the al
lied nations.
But he spoke to the world, and he
spoke the logical sequel to his force
without stint or limit" declaration of
several weeks ago.
Unreservedly, the president declared
that there could be no thought of
peace which did not mean the destruc-
ton of military autocracy or its reduc-
tiOn to virtual impotence.
"A reign of law, based on the consent
of the governed and sustained by the
organized opinion of mankind" was the
way he summarized in a single sentence
the objects of humanity In the world
war.
Whether the president was addressing
his remarks directly to the recent
speech of German Foreign Secretary Won
Kuehlmann, or to the foreshadows of
renewed German peace offensive, or
whether he merely took the occasion of
the celebration of American indepen-
dence % emphasize to the world the
war aims of the nation, can only be di-
vined He did not deal with the prog
ress of the war or any particular phase
of il. but he spoke eloquently of Amer
ica's attitude toward Germany's So
called peace treaties in the east by
grouping the people of Russia FOR the
moment unorganized and helpless,
among the peoples of the world stand
ing against the enemies of liberty.
1.-The past and the present are in dead
ly grapple and the peoples of the world
are being done to death between them,'
said President Wilson.
There can be but one issue. The
settlement must be final There can be
no compromise No halfway decision
would be tolerable. No halfway de-
cision is conceivable. These are the
ends for which the associated peoples
of the world are lighting and winch
must be conceded them before there can
be peace.
Il The destruction of every arbitra-
~ mower anywhere that can separately,
secretly and of it's single choice disturb
the peace of the world, or, II II cannot
he presently destroyed, at the least its
reduction to virtual impotence.
40 The settlement of every question.
whether of territory, of sovereignty, or
economic arrangements, or OF pol1tica'
relationship, upon the basis of the free
acceptance of that settlement by the
neonle Immediately concerned, and not
A. Of material interest
or advantage of any other nation or PEG
nile which may desire a different settle
ment for the sake of it's own exterior
influence or mastery. -
"3. The consent of all nations to be
governed in their conduct towards each
other by the same principles of honor
and of respect for the common law or
civilized society that govern the indi'
vidual citizens of all modern states in
their relations with one another; to the
end that all premises and covenants may
be sacredly observed, no private plots
or conspiracies Matched, no selfish in
iuries wrought with impunity, and
mutual trust established upon the hand
some foundation of a mutual respect Tor
right.
"a. The establishment of an organiza-
ton for peace which shah make it GER
tain that the combined power of free
right and serve to make peace and JUS
tice the more secure by affording a def
mite tribunal of opinion to which. all
must submit and by which every inter-
national readjustment that cannot be
amicably agreed upon by the peoples di-
rectly concerned shall be sanctioned.
These great objects can be put into
a single sentence. What we seek is the
reign of law. based upon the consent or
the governed and sustained by the or
gained opinion of mankind.
These great ends cannot be achieved
by debating and seeking to reconcile and
accommodate what statesmen may wish,
with their projects for balances of pow
er and of national opportunity They
can be realized only by the determine.
ton of what the thinking peoples of the
world desire with their longing hope
for justice and for social freedom and
opportunity"
Belgium Replies
Felix J. StreyckmanS, of Chicago, rep
resetning the Belgians-Americans and
chairman of the foreign-born at the
celebration here today. replied to the
prsidnt as follows:
Mr.. President, Members of the Diplo-
matte Corps:
ITO this shrine of the American peo-
pie. to the mortal remains of the man.
who. more than any other, gave the
American ideal life and form, we have
come today, bearing our humble trib-
ute as citizens of the great republic.
You. yourself I'M President, have &C
coded to our respect that this Independ-
ence day be designated as a festival
of loyalty on the part of our foreign
born citizens and OF their sons and
daughters. 1t is for me, representing
this committee of pilgrims. to tell you
what it means to US.
lone hundred and forty-two years ago
today, a group of man animated with
the same spirit as that of the man who
lies here, founded the United States of
America on the theory of free govern
ment with the consent of the governed.
That was the beginning of America. AS
the years went on, one century blend
ed with another, men and women came
from even ten uttermost ends of the
aliens earth TO join them. We have called
them aliens but they were never alien.
Though they spoke not a word of the
language of this country, though they
CROPPED only dimly toward its institu-
tions, they were already Americans in
soul or they would never have come