Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-07-11
DEFENDS LEAGUE OF NATIONS BEFORE
NATORS IN PRESENTING THE TREATY OF PEACE

session of rich islands on the other
side of the world and brought us into
association with other governments I'm
The control of the West Indies. 1t was
regarded as a sinister and ominous
thing by the statesmen of more than
one European Chancellory that we
should have extended our power be-
yond the confines of our continental
domiriCls. They were accustomed 10
think Of lew neighbors as a aew
menace, Of rivals as watChful enemies.
There vWe persons amongst us at
home who looked with deep disap.
pro al and ~ owed anxiety on such
c >tcrsious of Cpc national auth Dri,y
over distant islands and over peoples
whom they f"aled we might exploit,
net serve and assist. Rut we hav" net
exploited Them. We have been their
fri"rds ana have sought to serve them.
And our dominion has been menace
to no other nation. We redeemed our
honor to the utmost in our dealings
with Cuba. She is weak but absO-
lutely 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 a 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 twenty years ago:
ana now fear of us is ended also,
orr counsel and association 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 leadership
that Is offered us, whether we shall
accent o. reject the confidence of the
world.
God Pointed the WAY.
The war and the conference of
peace now sitting in Paris seem to me
to have answered that question Our
participation in the war established
our position among the nations AMI
nothing but our own mistaken action
can alter it. 1t was not an accident
or matter of sudden choice that we
are no longer isolated and devoted to
n policy winch has only cur own in
tertst and advantage for its object.
It was our "rty to so in. if we were
indeed the champions of liberty and
right We answered to the call of
duty in 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 asserte
and indicated. by a 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 RESPONSE
bility have come to this great nation
that we honor and which we would
all wish to lift to yet higher levels of
service and achievement.
The stage is set, the destiny dis
closed. 1t has come about by no plan
of our conceiving but by the hand IF
God who led us into this way. We cam
not turn back. We can only go for
ward, 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 no where else.