The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-07-11


ognized 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 operation
again and communities beaten to the
ground assisted to their feet once more,
and it 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 We're
generously accepted as the unaffected
champions of what was right. 1t was a
very responsible role to play; but | am
happy to report that the fine group of
Americans who helped with their expert
advice in each part of the varied settle
ments sought in every transaction to
Justify the high confidence reposed in
them.
"And that confidence, it 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 peoples of the world
is to be fulfilled or disappointed. The
fact that America is the friend of the
nations, whether they be rivals or asso-
ciates, is no new fact it is only the dis
covery of it by the rest of the world
that is new.
Reaches Majority as World Power.
America may be said to have just
reached her majority as world power
1t was almost exactly p 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. 1t was regarded as sinister
and ominous thing by the statesmen of
more than one European ehancellery that
we should have extended our power be-
yond the confines of our continental do
minions. They were accustomed to
think of new neighbors as new menace,
of rivals as watehful enemies.
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 have
sought to serve them. And our domin-
ion has been a menace to no other ma
tion. We redeemed our honor to the ut
most in our dealings with Cuba. She is
weak but absolutely free; and it 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 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 20 years ago; and now fear of us
is ended also, our counsel and associa-
tion sought after and desired. There
can be no question of our ceasing to be
a world power. The only question is
whether we can refuse the moral leader
ship that is offered us, whether we shall
accept or. reject the confidence Of the
world.
We Cannot Go Back.
"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 our position
among the nations and nothing but our
own mistaken action can alter it. Ii
was not an accident or a matter of sud
den 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 90 in, if we
were indeed the champions of liberty and
of right.
1--WE answered to the call of duty in a
way so spirited, so utterly without
thought of what we spent of blood or
treasure, so effective, so worthy of the
admiration of true men everywhere; so
wrought out of the stuff of all that was
heroic, that the whole world saw at last
in the flesh, in noble action, a great ideal
asserted and vindicated 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 bondage. 1t is thus that
new role and 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 achieve
ment.
THE stage is set, the destiny disclosed
II has come about by no plan of our con
ceiving, but by the hand of God, who led
us into this war. We cannot turn back.
We can only go forward, with lifted eyes
and freshened spirit to follow 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"