The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-11

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and / got to Paris-determined by the
universal expectations of the nations
of the globe we were to deal
with. It was universally recognized
that America had entered 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 armistice had been agreed
to and the parIeys of peace undertaken
and no one doubted that our desire
was to see the treaty of peace formu
lated along the actual lines of those
| principles desired nothing else.
We were welcomed as disinterested
friends. We were resorted to as arb
tiers in many difficult matter 1t
was recognized that our material aid
would be hides pensable in the days 10
come when industry and credit would
have 10 be brought back to their nor
NAL operation again and communities
beaten to the ground assisted to their
feet once more and 1t was taken for
granted, am proud to say that we
would play the helpful friend in these
things as in all others without preju
dice or favor We were generously
accepted as the unaffected champions
of what was right. 1t was very res
ponsible role to play; but am happy
to report that the fine group Of Amer1- I
cans who helped with their expert ad-
vice in each part of the varied settle .
ments sought in every transaction 10
Justify the distinguished confidence
reposed in them.
In Days TO Come.
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 hopes of the peo-
pies Of the world is to be fulfilled or
disappointed. The fact that America
is the friend OF the nations, whether
they be rivals or associates, is no new
fact; II 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
power. 1t was almost exactly twenty
one years ago that the results Of the
war with Spain put us Unexpectedly in
possession Of rich islands on the other
side of the world and brought US into
association with other governments in
the control Of the West Indies. 1t
was regarded as a sinister and omi-
nous thing by the statesmen OF more
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 new men
ace, Of rivals as watchful enemies.
They were persons amongst us at
nome who looked with deep disap-
prevail and avowed anxiety on such ex-
tentions Of our national authority over
distant islands and over peoples whom
hey feared we might exploit, not
serve and assist. But we have not
exploited them. And our dominion has
been menace to no other nation. We
-edeemed our honor to the utmost in
,ur dealings with Cuba. She is weak
,ut absolutely free; and it is her
rust IN MS that makes her free Weak
peoples everywhere stand ready to
1--WE us any authority among them
hat will assure them like friendly
and direction. They know
hat there is no ground for fear In re-
;etving US as their mentors and
,uides. Our isolation was ended
Wenty years ago; and now Tear OF US
8 ended also, our counsel and assoc
iation sought after and desired.
here can be no question of our ceas- :
ng TO be world power. The only
uestion is whether we can refuse the
moral leadership that is offered US,
whether we shall accept or reject the
onffdence Of the world. ir
The war and the conference Of peace
low sitting in Paris seem TO me to
ave answered that question. Our
in the war established
ur position among the nations and 4
othing but our own mistaken action r
an alter 1t. 1t was not an accident or b
matter Of sudden choice that We are u
10 longer isolated and devoted to II
olicy which has only our own inter
st and advantage for its object. 1t v
vas our duty to 20 in, IL we were n
indeed the champions Of liberty and p
f right. We answered to the call of il
uty in way so spirited so utterly fl
Without thought Of what we spent of
Hood or treasure, so effective, so d
worthy of the admiration OF true men is