The Washington herald., 1918-01-09
WILSONSTATESTERMS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.


resentatives acting as escorts. and ir
three steps he was upon the rostrum
As he started speaking their was 9
nervous coughing that subsided SUD.
denly under q sibllant admonition oi
silence. The audience seated there
before the President, on the floor and
in the galleries, knew only that he
was about 10 discuss the international
situation. In what respect none oi
his hearers knew.
There was one exception. TO be sure
A small, quiet-looking man sat in the
gallery reserved for members Of the
Presidents family. He was Col. z
NJ. House, recently American commits
sioner at the interallied war confer
ences at Paris and London. In the
row in front Of him sat Mrs. Wilson.
Now and again, as the applause broke
cfrth from floor and galleries. the
quiet little man. with face slightly
flushed, leaned forward and spoke
to Mrs. Wilson.
Gets Noisy Applause.
And the applause WAS generous
and at times tempestuous. As the
full effect Of what the President was
Congressman before him the applause
grew in volume. The climax was
reached when the President declared
that Germany must right the wrong
she did TO France fifty years ago
"in the matter Of Alsace-Lorraine
Senators and Representatives. old ant
young, Republican and Democratic
rose as with n common impulse tc
their feet, and. as the galleries fol
lowed suit. roar after roar OF ap-
proval crashed out.
Three hundred miles away, in q
cable ONCE in New York. as tho
President spoke. operators flashed
forth TO every corner of the world
the momentous speech. all cables hav-
ing been cleared for the exclusive
purpose OF getting the President,
message abroad in the shortest pos
sible time.
Within several minutes after MT
Wilson mounted the rostrum in the
House of Representatives. at Wash.
ington translators i'm the American
legations at the Hague and other
neutral capitals of Europe were trans
cribing the message for newspapers
certain TO get into Germany. Nc
pains or expense had been spared e
make certain that the people in thu
enemy countries would read the ap,
peal.
For soeIety's Life.
NO statesman" the President wal
saying at Washington. who has tht
least conception OF his responsibility
ought for a moment TO permit himself
to continue this tragical and appalling
outpouring Of blood and treasure un
less he is sure beyond a peradventur,
Of doubt that the objects of the vita
sacrifice are part and parcel OF tn,
very life OF society and the people foi
whom he speaks think them right anC
imperative as he does"
The President spoke not alone 70
America. but for the allies. With Col
House advising him, il is assumed tha
he spoke by some kind OF agreement
reached at the inter-allied war con
ference, that there should not longe
be a hesitancy about announcing wa
aims. At all events, members OF tn,
allied diplomatic corps were enthusi
astic over the speech.
Nothing has ever been said tha
soIidifies so completely the aims Of tn,
nations at war with Germany" wa
the way one weighed its effect.
Even Pacihsts Pleased.
Pacifists in Congress Joined I'm tn,
verdict OF approval, For the first tim,
since they split a year ago, Senator
Stone. OF Missouri. walked arIn-in-aru
with the President leaving the cham
Der.
Only La Follettc was conspicuous
by his absence.
Aside from conside rations OF tn,
effect of the message on Germany
there are men in high station in
Washington who regard the Presi
dents speech as a notice to all tn,
world-to friend and foe aIike-tha
the International dealings OF the fu
ture are to be OF a new order. Stand
ing squarely beside chaotic, dis
traught Russia, President Wilson hal
picked from the lips Of the BolsheviIl
themselves some Of the principle.
which he lays down as the basis o.
future peace.
For Publicity First.
Like Lenine and Trotzky. who's,
proposition was greeted with jeers BY
diplomats OF the old school, Pres
ident Wilson laid down as the cor
ner stone Of future intercourse be
tween nations that peace shall b,
concluded in the free air OF publ
city; that there shall be no secre
covenants or treaties; and that guar
anteCs OF exacting character shall
be exchanged that there will be M
secret understanding likely at som,
unlooked-for moment to upset tn,
peace OF the world"
Upon this plank, President Wilson
gives notice. the oldest republic o
modern history. and the younges
democracy OF the world are prepared
to stand. though Russia lies pros
trate before the German war lor,
and America is but starting in th,
contest.
LudendOrf About Through.
Reports are beginning to come ou'
from Germany through the neutra
press in Holland and other contiguou!
countries that LudendorfT, seeing tn,
handwriting on the wall has Offered
his resignation to the Kaiser. or /,
about to. These reports-in the shap,
of rumors. to be sure. ana nothing