The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-01-16
THE TRAGEDY OF THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY
Professor LeVant Dodge
III. Americas Providentisl Entrance
into the War


ing in the war. The writer of this
article ventures the assertion that
il was neither too early nor too late.
II was not at the time which any
one human being, even the wisest,
with the data then at hand would
have chosen. But it did occur a.
the time when the most important
world interests were thus served,
and so il was providential. God set
the time. IL would now be hard to
find any loyal American ready to
insist that we began too early. But
were we too late? The reelection
Of our present Chief Magistrate by
scant margin was secured by the
argument, If argument IL really was,
that "He has kept us out of war"
A truer statement of the case would
be that the people kept him and the
government out of the war. Accord.
ing TO international law and national
customs, we had long been placed in
position where self-respect de-
manded at least energetic prepara-
ton for probable hostilities. But no
doubt the President honestly hoped
against hope that somehow war
might be averted. Hence those
words of his, I'VE are too proud to
fight" and his later assertion that
il was becoming evident TO all that
peace must come without victory"
Neither of those utterances reflects
credit upon us. But this occasion
is taken, by one who never voted for.
President Wilson TO confess that our
tardy action, and the consequent re-
election Of the President, now seem
providential.
Space will permit only a very
condensed statement Of the reason
for the above conclusion. An earlier
declaration of war would have found
the majority Of our people not pre-
pared to endorse ii. And the cleo
ton Of the other candidate for the
presidency, while it probably would
not have brought on the war any
earlier, W uld have been considered
by some as the cause Of the war.
Consequently there would have been
less unanimous support of the ad-
ministration in adopting vigorous
measures on the necessarily large
scale. At the time the United States
appeared in the theatre Of action,
the entente allies were seemingly so
nearly beaten that the expression
was becoming common, England
and France are whipped almost to
their knees" The promise of help
from us at once improved the NOR
ale of our allies. The arrival of our
troops infused new spirit. Mere
hope was changed to absolute con-
fldence. Thus we are recognized as
having turned the scale. The first
smashing victory, after General
Foch assumed the offensive, last
July, was won by our soldiers. All
this has begotten a livelier gratitude
toward us than if our help had come
earlier. Englishmen united in eel
ebrating our last Independence Day.
The French love for America has
famed out anew. We are bound to
them and to all the allied nations
by ties too strong ever to be broken.
Our President, as the representa-
tive of the American people, will be
the most influential person in de-
Gliding the terms of the great world
treaty. This mighty young republic
affords the first example Of sending
delegation TO sit by a peace table
without any selfish schemes to adj
vance. We ask for no territory and
no indemnity. We simply seek to
secure justice and the highest good
of mankind. This noble stand OF
ours gives us the balance of power
in the deliberations of the next few
weeks, at Versailles.
We all are forced TO admit that in
President Wilson we have a repre-
sentative singularly qualified TO give
clear and eloquent expression TO the
lOftlest views and the noblest ideals
of our people. Some of us deeply
regret that on the eve of election he
made an uncalled for partisan ap-
peal TO the country.
But in the presence of the momen-
tous world questions awaiting de-
cision, we surely can afford TO put
aside party spirit and rejoice that
we have, as our leading spokesman.
a man OF so eminent qualifications of
mind, an undoubted patriot and a
Christian gentleman. He will be
ably supported by his associates oil
the Peace Commission. We have.
also, a country more united in es-
sentials than ever before. Truly,
like Esther of old, we seem 10 have
come To our present commanding