The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-27
WILSON'S BOSTON SPEECH

Neither the manner nor the matter of President Wilson's
speech, delivered in Boston on his return from the peace con
ference, need be adverted to. The American people knew, in
a general way, what to expect, and they were not disappointed.
The speech permits of no Interpretation because it inter
prets and elucidates itself. 1t cannot be summarized because
IT is a summary in itself. He went abroad to execute a com
mission for the American people,
He had looked into their minds and hearts and he knew
their wishes and desires, and he gave those wishes and desires
voice, action and being, and, on his return, he took occasion to
give an account of his mission and report progress as far as
might be done.
by the American people, millions of whom will never come
within the orbit of his vision or he of theirs; but he knows
them and they know him, and will Judge him impartially.
While overseas he met the sons OF Anak-there are giants
IN these days as well as in days gone by-and that he meas
ured up to the full stature of the greatest of them we may well
believe. This is the report of observant critics, some of whom
were none too friendly, and who would have reioiced to discover
any flaw or intrmity upon which to base an invidious COM
parson.
He explained the psychological conditions abroad, and how
the dazed and disheartened peoples believed in America, trusted
America and depended on us for salvation: and the facts surely
justify our people in feeling a thrill Of exultant pride when they
contemplate the esteem in which they are held.
His defverance was essentially Wilsonian, and while the
occasion was one which would have justified the use of suns
for sentences and stars for sylables. neither it nor the sorceries
while away at any time betrayed his fancy or inflamed his
vanity into a departure from a coherent recital Of his expert
ences.
Lucid, exact and definite. his periods were as smooth as if
polished by a lapidary, and authoritative and majestic by their
simplicity and drectnesS.
The meeting which he attended was the most imposing and
nonnentous ever held IN the world, and il we had the magma
ton Of the ancients we could easily believe it to be a session
OF the Olympians convoked to discuss the placing of new planets
IN s'derial space and the course of human destiny. And while
ne was an active and a dominant factor in the great drama, his
report was that OF a vigiant spectator, to whom nothing that
occurred was a subject Of indifference or incuriosity.
The conference had on hand the rescue of the world from
a chaos produced by greed, ~selishness. lust OF power, struggle
for dominion, cruelty and crime and bloodshed, and giving ii
the initial impetus to send it revolving through space on an ideal
course; a better world, freed from the old appulses of cruelty
and crime, and circling in a new orbit that makes the happiness
OF humanity possible and humanity accessible.
In preparing a tentative charter for this new world the con
ference made a stupendous beginning on a stupendous task
and gave humanity reason to hope for better times. Much worl
remains to be done, but the foundation has been laid, and thu
rest can be finished in time, by the exercise of patience, SINGER
iy and undated effort.
Considering the magnitude Of the task before the conference
and the splendid progress so far made, how small. how mean
how intinitestimal, how contemplate, abject and despicabl
appear those who, Tor personal or partisan reasons, attempt t
inject discord into the grand diapason, and destroy its harmony
or who would arrest progress by a confusion of tongues. Thes
are preposterous midgets who think by their puny weight to pu
a drag on the revolving fywheel of destiny.
The American people know what has been done, and the,
share in the propulsive sentiment that is behind it and whici
made it possible, They will sustain the president, and leave hi
hecklers to the companionship and torrents of their own fatuou
impotency.