The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1912-1921, 1918-07-06
AN ADDRESS TO CIVILIZATION.

AN ADDRESS TO CIVILIZATION.
From the welter OF world which has been
so occupied with the immediate demands of the
war there spoke on the Fourth of July voice
which caused not Americans exclusively but the
civilized world to pause in it's preoccupation and
hear the prophetic words of man who, be-
cause of his sincerity, his intellectual grasp of
things large and important, his devotion to
what is morally and, ethcally right in the
world according to the standards accepted
among civilized people, and because of his
proven honesty, is directing the destiny of a
hundred million citizens whose potential con-
tributions in this hour of the worlds trial
spell the solution Of the struggle in Europe
President Wilson spoke upon a stage which
was set with profoundly significant historical
traditions; and the Presidents pronouncement
was in complete concord with the spirit of the
setting. Referring to Washington and his as
sociates, the President said they "spoke and
acted, not for Glass; but for a people. 1t has
been left for us to see to it that it shall be I'M
derstood that they spoke and acted, not for
single people only, out for all mankind" And
upon that plane the President laid the founda-
ton for the only peace which will be accepta-
bic to this and all the allied nations.
The Presidents addresses have always been
characterized by peculiar felicity of style, and
an exactness and beauty of diction which have
set his addresses apart from those of most pub
lie men; and this address to civilization does
not suffer one whit upon an examination by
such standards. But the striking loftiness of
the Presidents conceptions, the idealism which
runs through his address,, and the very plain
but at the same time high-minded conceptions
which he lays down as the necessary prelim-
naries to a discussion of peace are what will
mark the address as epochal
Not the least of the aspects in which this
war is unparalleled is that of the motives which
have drawn the combatants into the struggle;
and to America alone goes the glory Of having
entered it for purely altruistic reasons. The
statement may be made not merely as COM
pliment to the worlds most successful repub-
lie, but in recognition of the fact that the
young republic has lived up to it's finest trad-
lions. America entered the war through it's
devotion to the principle of freedom for the
world and it's desire to see law and order and
decency rule the world rather than have it re-
vert to a period of lawlessness and barbarism.
With no private purposes in mind, with no pc
culiar privileges to seek, with no national glory
as a goal, America came forward as cham
pion for the world of that principle for which
cur forefathers fought and died, that the prin-
eple of liberty for ourselves might not only be
secured but that the liberties of other people
as well might find champion. In that sense,
as the President pointed out, America is only
carrying out what our fathers started and what
they themselves would do were they living to-
day.
With such motivation the bases Of settle
ment could be nothing other than what the
President outlines. The program may well con-
vince Germany that nothing short of her COM
plete humiliation, of the elimination of every
vestige of autocratic power in her kingdom,
will persuade America to enter any peace par
ley where Germany is present. 1t must be so,
because no dependence can be placed in the for
mer Germany and there is no party in Ger
many with whom the Allies can discuss the
problems with any certainty that the agree
ment will be respected in Germany. To secure
stable international condition after the war
it is necessary to eliminate such outlaw nations
as Germany The Presidents declaration of
peace discussion bases will strike a responsive
echo in the heartslof the mass of the American
people who, more than any other nation upon
the face of the earth, can feel the impulses OF
liberty.