Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-07-18

the basis Of the peace, as well as with
the practical possibilities of the inter-
national situations which had to be
faced and dealt with as facts.
shall presently have occasion to
lay before you special treaty with
France, whose object is the cmpo-
rary protection Of France from I'M
provoked aggression by the power
with whom this treaty of peace has
been negotiated. Its terms link il
with the treaty. | take the liberty,
however, of reserving it for special
exploitation on another occasion.
The role which America was to
play in the conference seemed deter
mined, as have said, before my COL
leagues and got to Pars-deter-
mined by the universal expectations
OF the nations whose representatives,
drawn from all quarters of the globe,
we were to deal with. 1t was univer-
sally recognized that America had en-
tered the war to promote no private
or peculiar interest of her own but
only as the champion Of rights which
she was glad to share with free men
and lovers Of justice everywhere. We
had formulated the principles upon
which the settlement was to be made
the principles upon which the ar
mistice had been agreed to and the
parleys of peace undertaken-and no
one doubted that our desire was to
see the treaty of peace formulated
along the actual lines of those prin-
ciples-and desired nothing else. We
were welcomed as disinterested
friends. We were resorted to as arb-
ters in many difficult matter. 1t
was recognized that our aid would be
indispensable in the days to come.
We were generously accepted as
the unaffected champions of what
was right 1t was q very responsible
role to play; but am happy to re-
port that the fine group of Ameri-
cans who helped with their expert
advice sought in every transaction
to justify the high confidence i'm
posed in them.
And that confidence, it seems to
me, is the measure Of our opportunity
and of our duty in the days to come,
in which the new hope of the peoples
of the world is to be fulfilled or dis
appointed. The fact that America is
the friend of the nations, whether
they be rivals or associates, is no new
fact; it is only the discovery of it
by the rest of the world that is new.
America may be said to have just
reached her majority as world pow
er. 1t was almost exactly 81 years
ago that the results of the war with
Spain put us Unexpectedly in possess
sion of rich islands on the other side
Of the world and brought US inso as
ISOLATION with other governments in
the control of the West Indies. 1t
was regarded as a sinister and omi-
nous thing by the statesmen of moro
than one European chancellory that
we should have extended our power,
beyond the confines of our continental
dominions.
They were accustomed to think of
new neighbors as u new menace, of
rivals as watchful enemies. There
were persons amongst us at home
who looked with deep disapproval
and avowed anxiety on such extern
sions Of our national authority over
distant islands and over peoples
whom they feared we might exploit,
not serve and assist. But we have
been their friends and have sought to
serve them. And our dominion has
been menace to no other nation. We
redeemed our honor to the utmost
in our dealings with Cuba. She is
weak, but absolutely free; and it is
her trust in us that makes her free.
Weak peoples everywhere stand ready
to give US any authority among
them that will assure them a like
friendly oversight and direction. They
know that there is no ground for
fear in receiving US as their mentors {
and guides. Our isolation was ended {
20 years ago; and now fear of us is
ended also, our counsel and associa-
ion sought after and desired. There {
AN be no question of our ceasing to O
We world power. The only question I
S whether we can refuse the moral q
leadership that is offered US, whether
We shall accept or reject the conf
lence of the world.
The war and the conference of =,
'eace now sitting in Paris seem to
ne TO have answered that question. :
Dur participation in the war estab- .
lshed our position among the ma :
ions and nothing but our own mis- :.
aiken action can alter it. II was not !,
n accident or matter Of sudden !,
hoice that we are no longer isolated :,
I'd devoted to policy which has .
My our own interest and advantage :.
or its object. 1t was our duty to go =
a, if we were indeed the champions =
f liberty and of right. We answered =
0 the call Of duty in a way SO
pirited, so utterly without thought
( what we spent of blood or treas
re, so effective, so worthy of the CT
dmiration of true men everywhere, D,
D wrought out Of the stuff of all y
nat was heroic, that the whole world T.
sw at last, in the flesh, in noble r.
,tion, great ideal asserted and II
indicated by a nation they had .;
eemed material and now found to y.
, compact Of the spiritual forces that y,
ust free men of every nation from =,
yery unworthy bondage. 1t is thus =,
Iat new role and new response ',
lily have come to this great nation "
lat we honor and which we would
wish IN lift IN vpt hiuhar lava1s ~