The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-07-15

90
Paris out of generous courtesy-with
mo heart for festivity, little zest for
Hope. But they came away with
something new at their hearts; they
Ihave themselves told us so. The mere
sight of our men-of their vlgor, OF
the confidence that showed itself in
every movement of their stalwart fig
'ures and every turn of their swing
ing march, in their steady compre-
iE1ending eyes and easy discipline; in
The indomitable air that added spirit
to everything they did-nlade every
one that saw them that memorable
day, realize that something had hap
ipened that was much more than a
mere incident in the fighting. some
things very different from the mere
arrival of fresh troops. A great moral
force had flung itself into the strug-
gle. The fine physical force of those
spirited men spoke of something
more than bodily vigor. They car
ried the great ideals of free peo-
pie at their hearts and with that Wis
ion were unconquerable. Their very
presence brought reinsurance; their
fighting made victory certain.
Went as Crusaders.
J "They were recognized as crus-
aders, and as their thousands swelled
to millions their strength was seen to
mean salvation. And they were fit
men to carry such hope and make
good their assurance it forecast.
Finer men never went into battle and
their officers were worthy of them.
This is not the occasion upon. which
to utter an eulogy of the armies
America sent to France, but perhaps,
since am speaking of their mission,
I may speak also of the pride, shared
with every American, who saw or
dealt with them there. They were
/, the sort of men America would wish
to be represented by, the sort of men
every American would wish to claim
as fellow countrymen and comrades
lin a great cause. They were terrible
in battle, and gentle and helpful out
of it, remembering the mothers and
i the sisters, the wives and the little
children at home. They were free
men under arms, not forgetting their
ideals of duty in the midst of tasks
of violence. I am proud to have had
! the privilege of being associated with
them and of calling myself their lead
er.
"But I speak now of what they
meant to the men by whose sides they
fought and to the people with whom
they mingled with such utter simple
jity, as friends who asked only to be
of service. They were for all the
visible embodiment Of America.
What they did made America and all
that she stood for a living reality in
the thoughts not only of the people
of France, but also of tens Of mil
lions of men and women throughout
all the toiling nations of WORLD
standing everywhere in peril Of its
freedom and of the loss of every
thing it held dear, in deadly fear that
its bonds were never to be loosed, it:
hopes forever to be mocked and dis.
appointed.
sAnd the comparison of what they
stood for was upon us who represent
led America at the peace table. i
was our duty to see it that every de-
cision we took part in contributed
so far as we were able to influence
lit, to quiet the fears and realize the
hopes of the peoples who had beer
living in that shadow, the nations
that had come by our assistance tt
their freedom. It was our duty tt
do everything that it was within ou1
power to do to make the triumph Of
freedom and of right lasting tri
umph in the assurance of which me1
might everywhere live without fear
Might and Right Confused.
"Old entanglements Of every kint
stood in the way-promises which
governments had made to one anoth
er in the days when might and righ
were confused and the power of the
victor was without restraint.
Engagements which contemplated
any dispositions of territory, any ex
tensions of sovereignty that NIGH
seem to be to the interest of those
who had power to insist upon them
had been entered into withou
thought of what the peoples concern
ed might wish or profit by; and thes'
Icou1d not alWavs be honOrably brush