The sun., 1919-07-11
President Wilson's Address to the U. S, Senate

, IL for special exploitation on another 90
casion.
The role which America was to play
In the conference seemed determined, as
/ have said. before my colleagues and !
got to Paris-determined by the uni
yersal expectations OF the nations whose
| representatives drawn from all quarters
OF the globe, we were to deal with IL
was universally recognized that America
had entered the war TO promote no pri-
waite 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 nade-the prin-
ciples upon which the armistice had been
agreed to and the parleys OF peace un-
dertaken-and no Que doubted that our
desire was to see the treaty OF peace
formulated along the actual lines OF
those principles. and desired nothing else.
I'VE were welcomed as disinterested
| friends. We were resorted to as arDl"
ters in many a dificult matter. 1t was
recognized that our material aid would
be Indispensable in the days TO come,
when industry and credit would have to
be brought back to their normal opera
| ton again and communities beaten to
| the ground assisted to their feet once
more, and II was taken for granted.
| am proud to say, that we would play
| the helpful friend in these things as in
all others without prejudice or favor We
| were generously accepted as the unaf-
| fected champions of what was right. II
| was very responsible role to play; but
| l am happy to report that the fine group
OF Americans who helped with their exc
pert advice in each part of the varied
| settlements sought in every transaction
/ to Justify tho hiRh confidence reDOSed in
| them.
| And that confidence. II 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 people OF the world
| Is TO be fulfilled or disappointed. The
fact that America Is the friend of the
nations. whether they be rivals or ASSOC
ciates. Is no new fact II Is only the dis
covery OF it by the rest of the world
| that is new.
America of Age ms World Power.
America may he said to have just
| reached her majority as a 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 II was regarded as q
| sinister and ominous thing by the states
men OF more than one European chan
| celery that we should haxe extended
our power beyond the confines of our
| continental dominions. They were &C
customed to think of new neighbors as a
new menace, OF rivals as watchful enc
mics. There were persons amongst us at
| home who looked with deep disapproval
and avowed anxiety on such extensions
OF our national authority over distant
| Islands and over peoples whom they
feared we might exploit, not serve and
| assist
But we have not exploited them.
We have been their friends and haze
sought to serve them And our domin-
ion 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 II 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 twenty years
ago, and now fear of us is ended also.
cur counsel and association sought after
and desired. There can be no question
OF our ceasing to be n world Power. Tho
only question is whether We can refuse
the moral leadership that is offered us,
whether we shall accept or reject the
confidence of the world
The war and the conference Of peace
now sitting in Paris seem to me to have
answered that question. Our participa-
ton in the war established ouT position
among the nations, and nothing but our
own mistaken action can alter IT. 1t was
not an accident or a matter of sudden
choice that We are no longer isolated
and devoted to a policy which has only
our own interest and advantage for its
object. 1t was our duty TO go in, II we
were indeed the champions of liberty
and of right. We answered to the call
or duty in way 40 spirited. so utterly
without thought of what we spent OF
blood or treasure, 20 effective, so worthy
OF the admiration OF true men every
| where, so wrought out OF the stun of
all that was heroic. that the whole world
saw at last, in the flesh. in noble action,
d great Ideal asserted and indicated
by nation they had deemed material
and now found TO be compact OF the
spiritual forces that must free men OF
every nation from every unworthy bond
age. 1t is thus that a new role and a
new responsibility have come to this
great nation that we honor and which
we would all wish to lift to yet higher
levels OF service and achievement.
The stage Ii set, the destiny disclosed.
1t has come about by no plan of cur
conceiving, but by the hand OF God, who
led us into this way. We cannot turn
back. We can only go forward with
lifted eyes and freshened spirit to fol-
low the vision. 1t was of this that we
dreamed at our birth. America shall in
truth show the way The light streams
upon the path ahead and nowhere else"