Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-01-30
In Opening Debate He Asserts
Conferees Are "Represent-
atives of Peoples"
SELECT CLASSES NO LONGER
RULE, SAYS EXECUTIVE.

RULE, SAYS EXECUTIVE.
I'VE Can Set Up Permanent Processes,
Not Permanent Decision" Is Speak
er's BeIief-With American Soldiers
He Is "Crusader in a Great Cause"
and Must Attain End at Any Cost.
Paris, Jan. 27.-The following is
President Wilson's address on the
league of nations. delivered before the
?eace conference Saturday:
Mr.. Chairman: l consider it a dis
tinguished privilege to be permitted to
open the discussion in this conference
on the league of nations. We have
assembled for two purposes-to make
the present settlements which have
been rendered necessary by this war,
ana also to secure the peace of the
world, not only by the present settle
nlents, but by the arrangements we
shall make at this conference for it's
maintenance.
The League OF nations seems to me to
be necessary for both of these pur-
poses. There are many complicated
questions connected With the present
settlements which perhaps cannot be
successfully worked out to an ultimate
ISSUE by the decisions we shall arrive
1T here. l can easily conceive that
.l11nV If those Sntr1nn,nntS will nnnI
subsequent alteration in some degree.
for if I may judge by my own study of
some of these questions they are not
susceptible to confident judgments at
present.
1t is therefore necessary that we
ihould set up some machinery by Which
the work of this conference should be
rendered complete.
Representatives of Peoples.
We have, assembled here for the pur-
pose OF doing very much more than
making the present settlements that
ire necessary. We are assembled under
very peculiar conditions of world
opinion. l may say. without Straining
the point. that we are not the repre-
sentatives of governments. but repre-
sentatires of the peoples.
1t will not suffice to satisfy govern
ment circles anywhere. 1t is necessary
that we should satisfy the opinion of
mankind.
The burdens of this war have fallen
IN an unusual degree upon the whole
population OF the countries involved. |
do not need to draw for you the pic
ture. of how the burden has been
thrown back from the front upon the
older men, nI,on the Omcn upon the
children. upon the homes of the civil
!zed world, and how the real strain of
the war has come where the eyes of
fhe government could not reach. hu,
where the heart of humanity beats.
We are hidden by these people to
make Il peace which will make them
secure. We are hidden by them to see
to it that this strain does o come
upon them again. And | venture to say
That it has been possible for them to
oear this strain because they hoped
that those who represented them could
get together after this war and make
such another sacrifice unnecessary.
Must Maintain Peace.
This is Il solemn obligation on our
i'ilt. llSl eioIt. W lllitht PEI lllttllClll
arrangements that Justice shall be
rendered and peace maintained.
This is the central object of our
meeting. Settlements may be temper
lry, but the action of the nations i'm
the interest OF peace and Justice must
We permanent. We can set up perm,-
nent processes. We may not be able 1o
set up a permanent decision.
Therefore, it seems to me that We
must take as far as we can IL picture of
the world into our minds. Is it not :;
startling circumstance. for one thing.
that the great discoveries of science,
that the quiet studies of men iii lab
oratOrieS. that the thoughtful develop
mentS which have taken place in quiet
yecture rOoms, have o been turned to
the destruction of civilization? The
powers Of destruction have not 81
much multiplied as they have gained
facilities.
The enelny. whom we have just
overcome. had at his seats of learning
some of the principal centerS of S,.icn.
rife study and discovery. and he used
them in order to make destruction
sudden and complete. And only the
Natchful and continuous cooperation
If men can see to it that science. aS
well as armed men. is kept within the
harness OF civilization.
In a. sense. the United States is less
Interested III this subject than the
other nations here assembled. With
her great territory and her extensive
sea borders. it is less likely that the
United States should suffer from the
" stack of. enemies than the Other
nations should suffer. And the ardoI
If the United States-for it is a yer!
ieep and genuine ardor-for the
society Of nations is not an ardoi
springing out of fear or apprehension
Taut an ardor %springing from the ideal.
which have come in the consciousness:
IF This war.
In coming into this war the United
States never for a moment though
hat she was Intervening in the polite!
Petrarch and Laura.