The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-06-04
PRESIDENT WILSON PAYS
TRIBUTE TO DEAD
Thousands Of Americans and Num-
Der OF French Officials Attend Cere-
monies. Wilson Refers to League OF

cemetery at Surcsnes, near Paris. to-
aay during the ceremony Of paying tri-
oute to the occasion of Memorial ,Day
rresideht Wilson made his first refer
ehce to the league Of nations since the
covenant of the society which will
nave as its object the prevention of
future wars, was completed
His words were delivered in the
presence Of thousands Of American
soldiers and many civilians and the
oiiclal representatives Of the French
government including Marshal Foch.
numerous distinguished members of
allied officialdom who had come to
pay tribute 70 the American dead
also heard the presidents words.
Iouchng on the reasons which
had brought the American troops
across seas. the President said they
had come to defeat the things for
"hlch the central powers stood
me arrogant, selfish domination
which they intended to establish; and
they came, moreover to see to il
mat there never should be a war like
this again"
IT is for Is. particularly for us
who are civilized" the president con
tlnued. TO use our proper weapons
or counsel and agreement to see TO
1t that there never is such war
again The nation that should now fling
out OF this common concord of conn
sci would betray the human race. So
II IS our duty to take and maintain
me safeguards which will see to #
that the mothers Of America and the
mothers of France and England and
Italy and Belgium and all other suf-
1erlng nations should never be called
upon for this sacrifice again. This
can b. done. 1t must be done. And
it will be Gonc.
The things that these men left us.
though they did not in their counscls
conceive it, is the great instrument
which We have just erected i'm the
league of nations. The league of ma
ions IS the covenant Of government
thal these men shall not have died in
VAIN. look forward for the
time when every man who now puts
his counsel against the united service
of mankind under the league Of ma
'lohS VIII be Just as ashamed Of it
as he now regrcttedsSehe union of the
states"
The President declared that the
day of secret counsels was past bc-
cause the people were in the saddle.
Ihc private counscls of statesmen, he
added, would no longer determine
the dcStinies OF nations.
Barchcadcd, in the glare of the
sun, President Wilson spoke for
more than half an hour, most of the
time in an impassioncd defense OF
the league Of nations and in appeal
for It's support.
The cemetery is situated on the
hillside Of the ancient fortress CT
Mount Valcricn. With the old build
ings at his back the president looked
over the graves Of the American SOL
dierS and down into the city Of Paris,
which stood in the distance like
panorama The approaches to the
cemetery and the paths winding their
way through the burial ground were
lined with soldiers standing at attcn-
ton Americans on one side and
French on the other, as the prcsi-
dent arrived
The greater part Of the khaki
clothed listeners to the Presidents
speech were grouped in the shade of
the old fort, but 4 crowd Of ,Other
soldiers and civilians pressed close 10
the speakers stand. There was un-
wavcrinG attention by all TO the
Presidents utterancc8 and when he
concluded his auditors marmly ap-
plaudcd him. Captain Andre Tar
dicu French high commissioner, who
was in the stand with President Will
son listened attcntivcly to the speech.
The President never faltcrcd in his
diction Earncstncss pervadcd his
words. From nearby point, Mrs.
Wilson listened to her husband. She
and the President drove to the ceme-
terry in different automobiles and
Mrs. Wilson remained in hcr car in
stead of going to the speakers stand.
Before President Wilson began his
specch message to the President