The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1918-11-20
THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY
Nothing truer regarding the NOM
entous world history that is now max
ing has been said than by Mr.. Bag
Jeff, a Russian now in this country,
when he told the Louisville Times
that "lot only the Allied world, but
Russia, and even the oppressed peo-
| jle of Germany and Austria, are look
ing toward President Wilson today.
Russia sees hope for a democratic
government through his help and an
alliance with America. The whole
world is speaking his name-and it
| is the same in all languages, Will
son."
AS the republic of which Woodrow
Wilson is president is the recogniz-
ed leader in the great movement of
democracy which is reshaping the
political map of the world, Woodrow
wilson the man, as well as the Off
cial, is recognized everywhere as the
voice Of that movement. Whereev-
er the peoples of the earth breathe
their aspirations, they pronounce the
one name, Wilson. Even the coun-
tries with which we are now at war
turn to Wilson as their hope and
trust.
1t is not alone because he is the
head Of the mighty nation which
is the acknowledged bulwark of hui
man liberty, but it is because his lea
dership in the onward sweep of hui
man liberty that he is thus accept
ed the world over
Said A. G. Gardener, the British
publicist, a short time ago:
The dictates of plain wisdom sug-
gest that the Allies should lose no
more time IN associating themselves
with the Washington program. There
is no dishonor in following the lead
Of America in this matter. America
is, by the circumstances, in a pecu-
liar position to lead. She did not
want to be involved in the Europe
antaagle She has come into the war
because that tanple has thrown it's
coils round her and threatens her ex-
istence She wants nothing but a
peaceful world, has no territorial in
terest to serve and nothing to gain
except the common right to live. Her
peace terms therefore are disiater-
ested terms, and being disinterested,
they are terms which solve the pro-
blems of Europe as well as secure
her own liberties.
For those terms she is fighting
without bitterness, but with as in
tense determination as she fought
a no less vital issue sixty years ago.
Lincoln would be content with moth
inn hIIf 1nRn e., H.
Union. On that issue he was ada
mant for he saw that if he yielded
on that all was lost, whatever
seemed to be gained. But memorable
determination on the fundamental
point was consistent with wise
resolution that the victory should be
used for great ends. He fought the
South to keep it in the Union, and,
having won, the wounds of the nation
| were to be healed and the conquered
were to learn that in losing the fight
they shared common prize His I'M
happy death left his policy to be mis-
handled by cruder, less sensitive
minds; but it prevailed and today
there is no South or North, but one
mighty nation, inspired by a single
ideal Of liberty. What Lincoln did
for the North American continent
sixty years ago, that continent is
helping to do for the world today.
The policy which President Wilson
has laid down is the extention of
the Lincoln ideal to the whole hu-
man society. It is the Great Charter
of the worlds peace. It is indorsed
by the common people in all the AL
lied countries. It will be Endorsed to-
morrow by the common people in the
enemy countries. It has the sanction
of organized labor and is the hope of
every neutral land. All that it waits
for is full ratification by the Allied
is given, and it must be given in some
governments in Europe. When that
terms sooner or later, the hour Of VIC
tory will be brought nearer and it
will be victory Of more than arms.
It will be the victory Of an idea which
will lift the shadow from the future
of the world.
1t is plain now that the ratification
here mentioned has been given. When
Woodrow Wilson speaks he speaks
for Man, wherever Man is or would
be his own master.
Duluth Herald.