Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-07-18

uILHCIlO lSuldLGu llOlH Luc ldlSc al
fairs of the world to win not only
the universal confidence Of the peo.
pie Of the world, but their universal
affection, and that, and nothing less
than that, is what has happened.
Whenever it was suggested that
troops should be sent, and it was de-
sired that troops Of occupation should
excite no prejudice, no uneasiness on
the part of those to whom they were
sent, the men who represented the
other nations came to ME and asked
me to send American soldiers. They
not only implied but they said that
the presence Of American soldiers
would be known not to mean anything
except friendly protection and assist
ance. Do you wonder that it made our
hearts swell with pride to realize these
things?
But while these things in some
degree softened my homesickness,
they made me all the more eager to
get home where the rest of the folks
live, to get home where the great
dynamo Of national energy was sit
'uated, to get home where the great
purposes Of, national action were
formed, and to be allowed to take
part in the counsels and in the ac-
tion which were to be taken by this
great nation, which from first to last
has followed the vision of the mel
who set it up and created it,
We have had our eyes very close
upon our tasks at times, but when
ever we lifted them we were ac.
customed to lift them to a distant
horizon. We were aware that all
the peoples Of the earth had
turned their faces toward us as
those who were friends of free,
| dom and Of right, and whenever
we thought Of national policy and
of its relation upon the affairs Of
the world we knew we were un-
der bonds to do the large thing
and the right thing.
1t Is privilege, therefore, beyond
all computation for man, whether in
a great capacity or a small, to take
part in the counsel and in the resolu:
tions of a people like this.
am afraid some people, some
persons, do not understand that
vision. They do not see it. They
have looked too much upon the
-~ ground. They have thought too
much Of their neighbors. l have
never had moments doubt as to
where the heart and purpose OF y
this people lay. When anyone on
the other side of the water has
raised the question, will America
| come in and help?" l have said,
"Of course, America will come in
and help" She cannot do any
thing else. She will not disap-
point any high hope that has been
formed of her. Least of all will
she in this day of newborn Eb-
erty all over the world fail to ex-
tend her hand in support and as
! sistance to those who have been
made free.
Yokes Thrown Of.
wonder if at this distance you can
have got any conception Of the tragic
| intensity of the feeling of those peo-
pies in Europe who have just had
yokes thrown off Of them. Have you
rechoned up in your mind how many
peoples, how many nations, were held
unwillingly under the yoke Of the Aus
| tro-Hungarian Empire, undsr the yoke
Of Turkey, under the yoke OF Ger.
many? These yokes have been thrown
of.
These peoples breathe the air
and look around to see a new day
| dawn about them, and whenever
they think of what is going to fill
that day with action they think of
u.s.
They think first of the friends who
| through the long years have spoken
for them, who were privileged to de.
| clare that they came into the way to
release them, who said that they
would not make peace upon any other
terms than their liberty, and they have
known that Americas presence in the
war and in the conference was the
guarantee of the result.
The Governor has spoken of a great
task ended. Yes, the formulation of
the peace is ended, but it creates only
new task just begun.
l believe that if you will study
the peace you will see that it is
just peace and peace which, if it
can be presedved, will save the
world from unnecessary blood
shed. And now the great task is to
preserve it. ! have come back
with my heart full OF enthusiasm
for throwing everything that
can, by way of influence or action,
In with you to see that the peace
is preserved; that when the long
reckoning comes men may look
back upon this generation Of
America and say: They were true
to the vision which they saw at
their birth"