Evening journal., 1919-03-07

!, Is the fortune, good or III. of a
prominent man that some Of his .eords
do not depart from the public memory
We remember Washington's and Lin
coins phrases. We remember Cleye-
land and Roosevelt partly for their cpl
grams. Ihe present President has been
more Droliflc I'm speech than perhaps
any Iher Of The American Chief Ex-
ecuyves. He had earnest listeners, for
he spoke in years when mems ga .
we're keenest for his views on subjects
Of the greatest importance 10 America
His most interesting speeches have
been made In the last four years, nat
uraly. There has not been time 70.
lhe substance or them 10 fade from the
peoples memory. In several parts o.
Mr.. Wilson's speech on Tuesday nigat
thC/e were statements which could not
pave failed 10 arouse in his hearers
memories OF his past speeches, not
necessarily echoes, but react ons.
When the President announced his
purpose TO tell the people on the
other side Of the water than on over
Whelming majority Of the American
people is I'm favor Of the League OF
Ing has 10 be explained 20 me in
America, least Of all the sentiment Of
the American people" the m.nd OF
many Of Mr.. Wilson's auditors must
have returned 10 a speech, made mora
than a year after the war began. IN
which the President almost wistfully
declared that he was trying 30 dis
cover the sentiment Of America in re-
gard 10 the European struggle; that
ne wished TO know how IL was be ng
thought OF at every American freslde
These aud tors remembered that this
cropping desire was expressed by 2
man who had been in America all the
time, while the serene confidence OF
Tuesday night came from a President
who had been in the United STATES
only a few days since the proceedings
al Paris were begun
Agan, the President said that he
had heard nothing (. ON the critics OF
his league plan except the question.
"Will il not be dangerous for us to
help the world2" 70 this Mr.. VII
son replied. 1t would be fatal 20 US
not TO help il. From being what !
will venture 10 call the most famous
and the most powerful nation in the
world we would Of a sudden have be-
come the most contempt BILE" To
help the world. Of course, is 10
adopt the present plan Of the League
Of Nations; the President makes no
heard him apply the adjective "con-
temptlble' 10 an America which might
and will-reject the scheme may
also recall what Mr.. Wilson said on
May 6, 1914, at he unyeil.ng Of the
Barry monument 10 Washington:
There are just as vital things stir
rng now that concern the existence OF
The nation as were stirring then. and
every man who worthily sands in this
presence should examine himsel. and
see whether he has the full conception
Of what ~ means that America should
live her own life. Washington saw II
when he wrote his farewell address. Il
was not merely because OF passing and
transient circumstances that Washing
ton SAID that we mast keep from en-
tangling alliances. u was because he
saw that no country had yet set rs
face In the same direction in whicn
America had set her face. We cannol
form alliances with those who are moi
going our way; and in our might and
majesty and In the confidence and del-
nlteness Of our own purpose we need
not and we should not form alliances
with any nation in the world. These
who are right those who study Their
conscience5 I'm determining their n0ll-
cies. those who hold their honor high
er than their advantage, do not need
alliances.
"When, we 20 out from this presence
we ought TO tskc this idea with us thai