Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-03-06

forever.
The Europe that I left the other
day was full OF something that it had
never felt fill its heart so full before.
It was full of hope. The Europe of
the second year OF the war, the Eu.
rope Of the third year Of the war, was
sinking to a sort OF stubborn despera-
ton. They did not see any great
thing to be achieved even when the
war should be won. They hoped
there would be som salvages; they
hoped that they could clear their ter
ritoriss Of invading armies; they
hoped they could set up their homes
and start their industries afresh.
And now these ideals have wrought
this new magic, that all the peoples
of Europe r buoyed up and con-
ident in the spirit of hope, because
they believe that we are at the eve
Of a new age in the world when ma
tons will understand one another,
when nations will support n anoth-
er in every just cause, when nations
will unite every moral and every ply
steal strength to see that the right
shall prevail.
If America were at this juncture to
fail the world, what would come of it?
l do not mean any d~isrespect to any
other great people when l say that
America is the hope Of the world;
and if she does not justify that hope
the results are unthinkable. Men will
be thrown back upon the bitterness Of
disappointment not only, but the bit
terness of despair. All nations will
be set up as hostile camps and the
men at the Peace Conference will go
home with their heads upon their
breasts, knowing that they have failed
for they ere hidden not to come
home until they did something more
than sign a treaty of peace.
Suppose w sign the treaty of peace
and that it is the most satisfactory
treaty of peace that the confusing
elements of the modern world will af-
ford and go home and think about
labors; we will know that we have
left written upon the historic table at
Versailles, upon which Vergennes and
Benjamin Franklin wrote their names,
nothing but a modern scrap of paper;
no nations united to defend it, no
great forces combined to make it
good, no assurance given to the
downtrodden and fearful people of the
world that they shall be safe. Any
man who thinks that America will
take part in giving the world any such
rebuff and disappointment as that
does not know America.
Invites Test of Sentiment.
/ invite him to test the sentiments
of the nation. We set this up to
make men free, and we did not con-
fine our conception and purpose to
America, and now we will make men
free. If we did not do that the fame
of America would be gone and all her
powers would be dissipated. She then
would have to keep her power for
those narrow, selfish, provincial pur-
poses which seem so dear to some
minds that have no sweep beyond the
nearest horizon. l should welcome
no sweeter challenge than that. I
have fighting blood in me, and it is
sometimes a delight to let it have
scope, but if it is a challenge on this
occasion it will be an indulgence.
Think of the picture, think of the ut
ter blackness that would fall on the
world. America has failed! Amer
lea made a little essay at generosity
and then withdrew. America said,
"We are your friends" but it was only
for today, not for tomorrow. America
said, "Here is our power to vindicate
right" and then the next day said,
LET right take care of itself and we
will take cart of ourselves" America
said, I'VE set up a light to lead men
along the paths of liberty, but we
have lowered it. 1t is intended only
to light our own paths We set up a
great ideal of liberty and then we
said: Liberty is a thing that you
must win for yourselves. Do not call
upon u.s." And think of the world
that would leave.
Do you believe in the Polish cause,
as I do? Are you going to set up
Poland, immature, inexperienced, as
yet unorganized, and leave her with
a circle of armies around her? Do
you believe in the aspiration of the
Czecho-Slovaks and the JunsO-Slavs
as / do? Do you know how many
powers would be quick to prounce up
on them If there were not the guar
antees of the world behind their liber-
ty?
Have you thought Of the suffering
Of Armenia? You poured out your
money to help succor the Armenians
after they suffered; now set your
strength so they will never suffer
again.
When / think Of the homes upon
which dull despair would settle were
this great hope disappointed, 1
should wish for my part never to