The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-25
PARIS HONORS
SCHOLAR WILSON
French University Confers It's
First Honorary Degree Up
on American President.
FRANCE RECOGNIZES HIS
WORK AS GREAT JURIST
Splendid Tributes Paid-Poster-
ity VIII Salute Wilson as The
Righteous Declares Paris
University Rector.

Paris, Dec. 1.-(Havas.)-ln the
great amphitheater Of the University
of Paris (the Sorbonne), President
Wilson this afternoon received the
degree of doctor, honoris causa, con-
ferred upon him in recognition of his
work as a jurist and historian.
This is the first time in the his
tory Of the University that an hon
orary degree has been bestowed.
President Poncaire, the president Of
The senate and chamber of deputies,
the diplomatic corps. members Of the
government and the highest civil ana
military authorities were present.
Great crowds cneered the president
when he arrived accompanied by Mrs.
Wilson, Ambassador Sharp ard NJ.
Jusserand, French ambassador TO the
United States.
y Alfred Croiset, dean Of the faculty
of letters, welcomed President Will
son in a short address and presented
to him the diploma of doctor as q
testimonial to his work as an nisro-
rian and his writings on historical!
subjects. Ferdinand Larnaude, dean
of the faculty oe law, then bestowed
upon the president the degree Of doc
or for his works on Jurisprudence
and political science.
Lucien Poincare, vice rector Of the
University and brother of President
Poincare, paid an eloquent tribute TO
President Wilson's ability as a pro-
eessor before he entered upon his
political career, and told OF the Pres
fdent's part in the war. In conclusion
NJ Poincare said:
@Glory to the american students
Glory to the eminent professors ond
their universities! Glory to you, Mr.
President, who are the first amongst
them. In the name of the University
of Paris have the honor to award
the insignia and diploma of doctor
to one whom pcsterity will salute
with the surname, The Righteous
President Wilson"
President Wilson, in acknowledging
the honor bestowed upon him today
by The University Of Paris in the form
u a doctors degree. said:
tsy feel very keenly the distinguished
tlonor which has been conferred upon
me by the great University OF Paris.
and it is very delightful to me also tc
have the honor of being inducted into
the. great company Of scholars whose
+ life and fame have made the nlstor.'
Of the University of Paris thing ad-
rnirable among men Of cultivation IN
all parts of the world.
Spy what you have said, Sir, OF the
theory of education which has been
followed in France and which I have
tried to promote in the United States
7 am tempted to venture upon favor
ite theme. I have always believed
that the chief object Of education was
to awaken the spirit, and that mas
much as a literature whenever il has
touched it's great and higher notes was
an expression Of the spirit Of man
kind. The best induction into eduea
ton was to feel the pulses Of human
ity which had beaten from age to ag'
through the universities Of men whf
had penetrated to the secrets of tbs
human spirit.
"And I agree with the intimatior
which has been conveyed today tina
the terrible war through which VIC
war between nations. but that 1t has
been also a war between systems o.
culture-the one system the agSres
siye system, using science without
conscience, stripping learning CT its
moral restraints and using every fac
ulty Of the human mind to do wrong
to the whole race; the other system
reminiscent of the right tradition o
men: reminiscent of all their strus
les, some Of them obscure, but otn
ers closely revealed TO history, O.
men of indomitable spirit everywhere
struggling towards the right ant
seeking above all things else to b'
free.
The triumph Of freedom in thi
war means that that spirit shall nov
dominate the world. There is a grea
wave Of moral force moving through
the world, and every man who cp
poses himself to that wave will 81
down in, disgrace.
'.The task of those who are gather
ing here, or will presently be gath
cred here to make the settlements .
this peace is greatly simplified bE tn
one; they are servants Of mankind
And if we do not heed the mandate
of mankind we shall make ourselve:
the most conspicuous and deserved
failures in the history of the world.
my conception of the league o
nations is just this-that it shall op
crate as the ganized moral forcs
of men throughout the world and tha
whenever or wherever wrong ard ag
gression are planned or contemplated
this searching light of conscience vi
be turned upon them and men ever
where will ask:
What are the purposes that yor
held in your heart against the for
tunes of the world?
Just a little exposure will settis
most auestions If the Central Pow
ers had dared to discuss the purpose.
of this war for q single fortnight il
never would have happened. Ant
if, as should be. they were forced
discuss it for a year the war wouls
have been ineonceivable.