The Washington herald., 1919-02-25


ever.
II invite him to test the sentiments
of the nation. We set this nation
up to make men free and we did
not confine our conception and pur-
pose to America, and now we well
make men free. II we did not do
that all the fame of America would
be. gone and all her power would
be dissipated. She would then have
to keep her power for those mar
row, selfish provincial purposes which
seem so dear to some minds that
have no sweep beyond the nearest
horizon.
Il should welcome no sweeter chaI-
lenge than that. 1 have fighting blood
in me, and it is sometimes a delight
to let it have scope, but If it is a
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 a little essay at gener-
osity and then withdrew. America
said we are your friends, but it was
only for today, not for tomorrow.
America said, here is our power to
vindicate right and then the next day
said, let right take care of itself and
we will take care OF ourselves
Set Up Ideal of Liberty.
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 yourself. Do not call
upon US And think of the world
that we would leave. Do you realize
how many new nations are going to
be set up in the presence of old and
powerful nations in Europe and left
there. if left by US, without a dis
interested friend?
DO you believe in the Polish cause
as l do? Are you going to set up
Poland. immature. inexperienced, as
yet unorganized, and leave her with
circle of armies around her? DO
you believe in the aspirations of the
CZecho-Slovaks and the Jugo-Slavs
as l do? Do you know how many
powers would be quick to pounce up
on them if there were not the guar
antees Of the world behind their nber-
ty?
Have you thought of the sunerings
Of Armenia? You poured out your
money to help succor the Armenians
after they suffered: now set IN
your strength so that they shall never
suffer again.
Must Be Quaranteened.
The arrangements of the pres
'ht peace cannot stand a genera
non unless they are guaranteed by
the united forces of the civilized
world. And if we do not guar
antee them. can you not see the
picture? Your hearts have in
structed you where the burden Of
this war fell.
1t did not fall upon the nation
al treasures. it did not fall upon
the instruments of administration:
1t did not fall upon the resources
OF the nations. 1t fell upon the
NoIceIess homes everywhere, where
women were toiling in hope that
their men would come back.
When l think of the homes upOn
which dull despair would settle If
this great hope is disappointed. |
would wish for my part never to
have had America play anv part
whatever in this attempt to
emancipate the world. But l talk
as If there were any question. Il
have no more doubt of the verdict
of America in this matter than I
have doubt of the blood that is
in me.
The Europe that left the other
day was full of something it had
never felt fill its heart so full be-
fore. 1t was full of hope. The Eu-
rope of the second year of the war,
the Europe of the third year of
the war was sinking to a sort of
stubborn desperation. They did not
see any great thing to be achieved
even when the war should be won.
They hoped there would be some
salvage; they hoped that they
could clear their territories of in
yading armies; they hoped they
could set up their homes and start
their industries afresh. But they
thought it would simply be the re-
sumption of the old life that Eu-
rope had led-led in fear, led in
anxiety. led in constant suspicious
watchfulness. They never dreamed
that it would be a Europe of set
tied peace and of justified hope
On Eve of New Era.
And now those ideals have
peoples OF Europe are buoyed up
and confident in the spirit of hope,
because they believe that we are at
the eve of a new era in the world,
when nations will understand one
another, when nations will support
one another in every Just cause,
when nations will unite every moral
and every physical strength to see
that the right shall prevail.
If America were at this juncture
to fail the world, what would come
of it? I do not mean any disrespect
to any other great people when 1
say that America is the hope of the
world and if she does not justify
that hope the results are unthink-
able. Men will be thrown back up
on the bitterness of disappointment
not only but the bitterness Of de-
spair. All nations will be set UP,
as hostile camps again; the men at
the Peace Conference will go home