The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-08-08

A short time ago cannon doomed,
flags waved, multitudes cheered, the
whole nation offered spontaneous
prayer of thanksgiving, because one
man, single son of America, had
come home.
We have welcomed other individu-
ais of whom we have been proud. The
memory of the present generation
can conjure up vivid pictures of the
acclaim to George Dewey, returned
from his triumph at Manila; the greet
ing to Theodore Roosevelt, safely back
after his game-killing in African
wilds. And it requires little magma
tion to portray mentally the scenes
which will follow the stepping ashore
of John Pershing, one day not far
distant.
But in the welcomes of the past
there has not been, and in the greet
ings of the near future there prob
ably will not be, the depth Of feeling,
the sincere gladness, the genuine
thankfulness, which blended in the
demonstration made upon the rteurn
of Woodrow Wilson on July eighth.
Why?
He did not bring across the sea
with him the laurels of battle, the
medals of individual heroism, the tro-
plies of daring or skill. He was no
great warrior, no daring adventurer,
no mighty hunter.
This is why;
He brought with him the greatest Of
all gifts-Peace. Not only Peace now,
which through four terrible years all
mankind had longed for and almost
despaired of; but the prospect Of
Peace forever; the means-if we but
realize and accept it--of averting for
all time such agonies as humanity
suffered between August, 1914, and
November, 1918.
The American people hailed their
President because they, peace-loving
people, wanted Peace. 1t had been
torn from them. They had been
forced to venture into strange and
distant places and battle for the re-
gaining of this priceless belonging.
They had warred to the end. They
had given of their best in men and
material and self-sacrifice under Wood
row Wilson's guidance.
They had said to him, when the VIC
tory was won:
"Now, let us, the newest of nations
and the greatest-for in our blood
runs the best qualities of all the older
peoples-stop this suffering and
waste. Let us, the big brother of all
the world, make permanent rule of
justice and right. Let US establish
Court of the World, where fairness
and friendliness shall settle disputes,
instead of shot and shell. Go to the
council-table of the nations. Speak for
us these desires. The other nations
have had enough of war. The time
is ripe for them to agree to abolish
war. 1t is tremendous task, but you
will accomplish it."
Woodrow Wilson did accomplish
that task. His Intervening of the
League of Nations plan with the
Treaty of Peace, brought about after
ence, has resulted in the peoples Of
the world having at last definite,
tangible means whereby differences
may be settled without the Staying of
brother by brother. And so it was
that in the cheers that hailed him
there was not simply noisy enthusi-
asm but real heart; in the hat-doffings
that marked his passing there was not
merely respect but real reverence; in
the outpourings of citizens to see him
there was not just curiosity but real
gratitude.
And now-what?
Are we, the People, who demanded
that Woodrow Wilson bring to us this
great gift of permanent Peace, to