New Britain herald., 1919-02-25

And now tnese locals have wrought
this new magic, that all the peoples
of Europe are buoyed I'D and conf
dent in the spirit Of hope, because
they believe that we are at the eve
of new age in the world, when ma
tons will understand one another,
when nations will support one an
other in every just cause, when ma
tions will unite every moral and
every physical strength to see that
the right shall prevail.
If America were a this juncture
to fail the world, what would come
of it? I do not mean any disrespect
to any other great people when I
say that America is the hope of the
world: and if she does not justify
that hope, the results are unthink-
able Men will be thrown back upon
the bitterness of disappointing not
only but the bitterness of despair All
nations will he set up as hostile
camps again; the men at the peace
conference will go home with their
heads upon their breasts, knowing
that they have failed-for they were
! hidden not to come home from there
until thew did something more than
gn treaty of peace.
Suppose we sign the treaty of peace
and that it is the most satisfactory
treaty of peace that the confusing
elements Of the modern world will
afford. and go home and think about
our abors, we will know that we
| have left written upon the historic
| table at Versailles, upon which Yer
| gennes and benjamin Franklin wrote
| thelr names. nothing but a modern
| scrap of paper; no nations united 10
I defend it. no great forces com bined
j to make it good. no assurance given
! TO the downtrodden and fearful
people of the world that they shah
| be safe.
| Test the Sentiments of the Nation.
Any man who thinks that America
| will take part in giving the world
| any such rebuff and disappointment
/ as that does not know America. I
! invite him to test the sentim ents of
! the nation. We set this up to make
| men free, and we did not cOnfine our
! conception and purpose to America,
! and now we will make men free. If
we did not do that, the fame of
! Am erica would he gone, and all her
! powers would be dissipated. She
! then would have to keep her power
! for those narrow, selfish. provincial
| purposes which seem so dear to some
minds that have no sweep beyond
| the nearest nOr1HOn.
should welcome no sweeter chal-
lenge than that 1 have fighting
! blood in me, and it is sometimes
delight to let it have scope, but if
I it is a challenge on this occasion it
| will be an indulgence. Think of the
picture, think of the utter blackness
| that would fall on the world. Amer
lea has failed America made a little
| essay at generosity, and then with
drew. 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 care of ourselves
! America said, We set up a light to
! lead men along the paths of liberty,
| but we have lowered it; it is intend
! ed only to light our own path" We
! set up great ideal of liberty and
! then we said: Liberty is a thing
! hat you must win for yourself. 40
! not call upon us
And think Of the world that We
| would leave. Do You realize how
{ many new nations are going to he set
up in the presence of old and power
| ful nations in Europe, and left
! there if left by us. without a disin-
| interested friend?
! DO YOU believe in tho Polish cause,
| rs T do? Are YOU going to set up
| Poland. immature. inexperienced, as
! yet unorgarized, and leave her with
| circle of armies around her? DO you
| believe in the aspiration of the
| Szech oslovaks and the Jugoslavs, as
I do? Do YOU know how many pow
crs would be quick to pounCe upon
them if there were not the guara atee
! Of the world behind their liberty?
Have YOU thought of the sufferings
! of Arm enia? You poured out your
| money to help succor the Arm enians
! after they suffered; now set your
| strength so that they shall never
| suffer again.
The arrangements Of the present
| peace cannot stand a generation UNI
less they are guaranteed by the unit
| ed forces of the civilized world And,
| If we DO not guarantee them. can You
not see the picture? Your hearts
| have instructed you where the burden
| Of this war fell It did not fall upon
| the national treasures, it did not fall
upon the resources Of the nation. 1t
! fell upon the Victims homes every
| where-where women we're toiiing in
| the hope that their men would come
back.
/ When I think of the homes upon
which dull despair would settle were
| this great hope disappointed I should
| wish for my part never to have had
| America play any. part whatever in
| this attempt to emancipate the wogld.
| But I talk as if there were any Dues
! ton. I have no more doubt OF the
| verdict Of \meTiCa in this matter than
| I have doubt of the blood that IS in
| me.
! The People Are In the Saddle.
And SO, my fellow citizens, I have
| come back to report progress. and