Gilpin observer., 1919-02-27
MUST LET THE
PEOPLE DECIDE
OPINION OF ALL AMERICA WILL
BE HEARD IN DECISION
ON PEACE LEAGUE.
ALL FRIENDLY TO U. S,
WILSON DELIVERS SPEECH At
MECHANICS HALL IN BOSTON
TO BIG CROWD.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Boston, Feb. 24.-President Wilson
made the following speech at Mechan-
les Hall in Boston, after landing from
his trip back from Europe.
Governor Coolidge. Mr.. Mayor. Fell
low Citizens:
II wonder II you are half as glad to
see me as I am to see you. It warns
my heart to see a great body of my fell
low citizens again. because in some re-
been lonely Indeed without your COM
radeship and counsel and tried at ev-
cry step of the work which fell to me
to recall what I was sure would be
your counsel with regard to the great
matters which were under considera-
ton.
IT do not want you to to think that
traordinary, generous reception which
wa. given to me on the other side. in
saying that 1t makes me very happy to
that I was not very deeply touched by
the cries that came from the great
crowds on the other side. But want
to say to you in all honesty that l felt
them to be q call of greeting to you,
rather than to me.
''I did not feel that the greeting was
personal. I had in my heart the over
sentative, and of receiving the plaudits
Of men everywhere who felt that your
hearts beat with theirs in the cause of
liberty.
There was no MISLEADING the tone in
the voices of those great crowds. 1t
was not a tone of mere greeting. 1t was
not tone of mere generous welcome
rade. the cry that comes from men who
say, We have waited for this day when
the friends of liberty. should come
across the sea and shake hands with
a a n
structed upon a new basis and founda-
ton Of Justice and right
Il can't tell you the inspiration that
out Of those simple voices in the
crowds. And the proudest thing have
to report to you, is that this great
the world.
IT have not come TO report the pro-
ceedings or the results of the proceed
ings of the peace conference; that
have received very happy Impressions
from this conference.-the Impression
that. while there are many differences
vergencies Of object. there is. never
theless, a common spirit and q common
realization of the necessity of setting
up new standards of right in the world.
Because the men who are in con-
ference realize as keenly as any Amer
lean can realize that they. are not the
the spirit of their people has awakened
to new purpose and 9 new conception
and that no man dare go home from
that conference and report anything
less noble than was expected of 1t.
slowly. from day % to day in p Paris H Il Il
seems to go slowly: but / wonder IL
you realize the compiexity Of the task
If the settlements Of this war affect.
and affect directly, every great-and,
! sometimes think. every small--nation
in the world; and no one decision can
in with the great series Of other deci-
sions which. must accompany It, and it
must be reckoned on with the final re-
OF that result Is to be properly judged.
whole case; hear. It from the mouths
from those who are officially commits
stoned to state It: hear the rival
of the, world. that affect new COM
mercial and economic connections that
have been established by the great
gone.
And have been struck by the mod
erateness Of those who have presented
national claims. can testify that
believe l have nowhere seen the CLEAN
or passion. have seen earnestness.
I have seen tears come to the eyes Of
men who pied for down-trodden peo-
pies whom they were privileged to
speak for. but they were not the tears
OF anger. they were the tears of ar
dent hope.
IT don't see how any man can fail
to have been subdued by these pleas
subdued to this feeling. that he was
not there to assert an Individual Judg-
ment of his own. but to try to assist
the cause of humanity.
And in the midst Of it all every in
terest seeks out, first Of all. when It
the United States. why? Because-
and think am stating the most Won
derful fact in history-because there
Is no nation in Europe that suspects
thing seen before? was there ever
so moving thing? Was there ever
any fact that SO bound the nation that
had won that esteem forever to de-
serve 1t?
II would not have you understand
that the great men who represent the
other nations there in conference are
disesteemed by those who know them
Quite the contrary. But you under
stand the countries of Europe have
other in competitive interests. 1t Is
impossible for men to forget the sharp
issues that were drawn between them
In past times.
that all ambitions have all of a sud
den been foregone. They remember
territory that was coveted: they re-
member rights that 1t was attempted
to extort; they remember political am
bitions which II was attempted to real
ize. and while they believe that men
have come into different temper, they
cannot forget these things and so they
do not resort to one another for n dis
passionate view of the matters in con-
troversy. They resort to that nation
which has won the onviable distinction
Prince eopold Held for crIc,e