The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-04
ITALIANS IN
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constitute an adequate reply.
II had occasion at the parliament
this afternoon to speak Of the strong
sympa thy that had sprung up between
the United States and Italy during the
terrible years Of the war, but perhaps
here l can speak more intimately and
say how sincerely the people of the
United States had admired your own
course and your own constant asso-
citation with the armies of Italy, and
the gracious and generous and serving
association Of her majesty the queen.
Praises italians In U. S.
'It has been matter Of pride with
US that so many Italians, so many
men Of Italian origin were in our own
armies and associated with their
brethren in Italy itself in the great
enterprise Of freedom. These are no
small matters, and they complete that
process of the welding together Of the
sympathies OF nations which has been
going on so long between our peoples.
THE Italians in the United States
have excited particular degree of
admiration. They, l believe, are the
only people Of given nationality who
have been careful to organize them
selves to see that their compatriots
coming to America were from month
to month and year to year guided to
places in industries most suitable to
their previous habits. No other ma
tionality has taken such pains as that
and in serving their fellow countrymen
they have served the United States.
because these people have found
places where they would be most use
full and would most Immediately earn
their own living and add to the pros
perity of the country itself.
"ln every way we have been happy
in our association at home and abroad
with the people of this great state. l
was saying playfully to Premier Or
lando and Baron Sonnino this after
noon that in trying to put the people
of the world under their proper SOW
ereignties, we would not be willing to
part with the Italians in the United
States because we, too much value the
contribution that they have made, not
only to the industry Of the United
States, but to it's thought and to many
elements of its life.
Honor Due Plain People.
This is, therefore, very welcome
occasion upon which to express a
feeling that goes very deep. l was
touched the other day to have an Ital-
ian, very plain man, say to me that
we had helped to feed Italy during
the war, and it went to my heart, be-
cause we had been able to do SO little.
1t was necessary for us to use our ton
mage so exclusively for the handling
of troops and Of the supplies that had
to follow them from the United
States, that we could not do half as
much as it was our desire to do to
supply grain to this country, or coal,
or any of the supplies which it so much
needed during the progress of the
war.
And knowing as we did in this in
direct way the needs of the country,
you will not wonder that we were
moved by its steadfastness. My heart
goes out to the little. poor families
all over this grea. kingdom who
stood the brunt and the strain Of the
war and gave their men gladly to
make other men free and other wom-
en- and other children free. These
are the people and many like them to
whom after all we owe the glory of
this great achievement, and ] want to
join with you, for l am sure OF Joining
with you. in expressing not only my
pIOlOuuu sympathy, uuL my SOiy pIO'
found admiration as well.
at is my privilege and honor to
propose the health of his majesty the
king and her majesty the queen, and
loEg prosperity to Italy"
Greeted by Dense Throng.
Rome was astir early this morning.
Seemingly, the entire population
streamed toward the station. where
President Wilson was to be welcomed
by King Victor Emmanuel The day
being a national holiday, everyone was
free to take part in greeting the Amer
lean president
From the furthest corners of the
city the crowds poured into the main
thoroughfares and thronged the
streets over which Mr.. Wilson was to
drive on his way to the Quirinal,
Hours before the arrival Of the presi-
Dental train, crowds packed the Via