The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-25

of peace.
 ONLY SCRAP OF PAPER
 Suppose we sign the treaty of peace and that it is the most satisfactory treaty of peace that the confusing ele- ments of the modern world will afford, and go home and think about our labors; we will know that we have left written upon which Vergennes and Benjamin upon which Verxennes and Benjamin Franklin wrote their names, nothing but a modern scrap of paper. No nations united to defend it, no greg: forces com bined to make it good. No assurance given to the down-trodden 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.
 'I invite him to test the sentiments of the nation We set this up to make men free and we did not confne our concep- ton 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 dis sipated She then would have to keep her power for those narrow, selfish, pro vincial purposes which seem so dear to some minds that have no sweep beyond the nearest horizon. I should welcome no sweeter challenge than that l have fighting blood in me and it is sometimes a delight to let it have scope, but if it is challenge on this occasion it will be an indulgence Think of the picture, think of the utter blackness that would fall on the world. America has failed. America made little essay at generosi- ty and then withdrew.
 America said: We are your friends, but it was only for today, not for to- morrow America said: Here is our pow CT 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 intended only to light our own path
 We set up a great ideal of liberty, and then we said: Liberty is a thing that you must win for yaurself, do not call upon us.
 And think of the world that we would leave. Do you realize how many new ma. tions are going to be set up in the pres ence of old and powerful nations in Flu rope and left there, if left by us, withou; a disinterested friend?
 Do you believe in the Polish cause, as I do?
 Are you going to set up Poland, i'm nature inexperieced. as yet morgan ized, and leave her with circle of arm les around her?
 DO you believe in the aspiration of the Czecho-Slovaks and the Jugo-Slavs as I do? Do you know how many pow CTS would be quick to bounce upon them if there were not the guarantees of the world behind their liberty?
 Have you thought of the suffering of Armenia? You poured out your money to help succor the Armenans after they suffered; now set your strength so that they shall never suffer again.
 "The arrangements of the present peace cannot stand a generation unless they are guaranteed by the united forces of the civilized world. And if we do not guarantee them, cannot you see the pic ture?
 Your hearts have instructed you where the burden of this war fell It did not fall upon the national treasuries. it did not fall upon the instruments of admin istration, it did not fall upon the re- sources of the nations. It fell on the victims homes everywhere. where wom- en were toiling in hope that their mer would come back
 When think of the homes on which dull despair would settle, where this great hope is disappoNted, I should wish, for my part, never to have had America play any part whatever in this attempt to emancipate the world. But talk as if there were any question
 q have no more doubt of the verdict of America in this matter than I have doubt of the blood that Is in me. 4 COMES TO REPORT PROGRESS . And so, my fellow citizens, I have come back to report progress and do not believe the progress is going te stop short of the goal The nations ol ho thair haadS dc a great thing, and they are not go ing to slacken their purpose. Ane when I speak of the nations of the world I do not speak of the govern ments of the world. I speak of the peoples who constitute the nations oi the world They are in the saddle and they are going to see to it that fl their present governments do not dc their will some other governments shall And the secret is out and the present governments know 1t. 7
 There is great deal of harmony tc be got out of common knowledge There is a great deal of sympathy te be got out of living in the same atmos- phere. and except for the differences ol language, which puzzled my American ear very sadly. I could have believed I was at home in France or in Italy or in England when I was on the streets, when I was in the presence ol the crowds, when I was in great halls where men were gathered together. ir' respective of class.
 T did not feel quite as much at home as do here. but I felt that now, al any rate, after this storm of war had cleared the air, men were seeing, eye to eye. everywhere and these were the kind of folks who would understand what the kind of folks at home would a a uh that thac think in q the same things.
 'sI feel about you as am re- minded of story of that excellent witness and good artist. Oliver Here ford. who one day. sitting at luncheon at his club, was slapped vigorously on the l~ck by a man whom he did not