Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-28
KING SPEAKS TO
HOUSES OF CONGRESS

| HOUSES UF CUNGkESS
Continued from First Page)
great cause on the battlefields Of
Europe and in the defense OF the
seas.
"The hearts of Belgians, whom
these heroes helped to liberate from
the domination OF the enemy. go out
in profound gratitude to the woun no
wounded Of the great war the as
surance of our affection and sympa-
thy. / express the gratitude OF BEL
GUM to those distinguished American
citizens who gave themselves VIZ. VIII,
Of tightening the sufferings OF the
Belgian people.
I'm this noble assembly I solemnly
thank the members Of the commits
sion for relief and the innumerable
committees that helped 1t in its ad-
mirable EFFORTS. salute in particu-
lar the names, craven forever in our
memories. of Herbert Hoover ana
Brand Whitlock.
"May this splendid American nation.
so richly endowed by nature, so mag
nificentiy served by its people, pursue
in serenity Of its powers, its work Of
achievement. Of culture and OF prog
ress."
introduced the King.
Senator Cummins Of Iowa, president
pro tempore Of the Senate. presented
the King Of the Belgians to the Sen
ate, presiding over the Senate in the
place Of Vice President Marshall. who,
in the absence Of President Wilson,
took the place Of the chief executive
in receiving the guest of honor.
Senators" said Senator Cummins,
'in my time have performed the
sorts and conditions of men. For men
of high and low degree; for men of
fame and men obscure; for men who
lead and men who follow: for men
who command and men who obey;
but never in all my life have under
taken the task with keener pleasure
or deeper appreciation than I expert
ence at this moment ..:t
!. Loss More Than Material. :,
Fortunately for civilization. strong
characters have played their parts.
and played theIn well. In every age.
To be great, however, strength must
be united with the opportunity to do
some vital thing for humanity: and
the strong character must be associated
with some mighty event In the affairs
psned that when strength OF charac-
ter and opportunity combine, the man
and the people he represents have arisen
to the full measure OF the duty i'm
posed. and then that man wins; for
human concerns from which moth
Ing can dethrone him: and that peo-
pie awaken and hold gratitude
which passes unimpaired to the re-
noble and distinguished guest 10 one
Of those men and his people one OF
those nations that l. count the priv
iisgs which has fallen upon the Sen:
the most enduring memory.
More Than Material.
We are living now in q world we'll
nigh wrecked by tho wicked ambi-
lions Of one great power; and many
hard and weary years must go by be-
fore either Europe or America will
nothing had been destroyed save
physical creations or comm erciai
| structures, tho labor Of restoration
would involve the sustained energy
OF decades OF limitless patience and
self-deniel: but our loss 10 infinitely
Of these material things. The war
has unsettled our accepted faith in
the forms of organized society. in the
relations which its members should
| bear to each other and in the instru-
mentalities through which Justice.
attained. The war may be ended, SO
far as the armies Of Germany are con-
| cerned, but the struggle with the
forces 1oosened in the terrific conflict
has Just began.
Il have mentioned this phase Of Q
/ -
the value and the glory Of winning
| the war. but to fortify the resolution
| OF the good citizens Of every nation
Of the earth. urging them to grapple
| with these problems with the Same
intensity OF purpose, tho same calm
with which Belgium met the advanc-
ing hosts Of Germany as they march
ed toward the conquest Of the world.
What II Germany Had Won.
| my mind 10 driven irrestibly to
one question. No matter how dificult
the work OF reconstruction and re-
adjustment may be. no matter how
long successful accomplishment may
require. what II Germany had won?
What Il she had been allowed to pass
unchecked through Belgium to an un-
prepared France and on to an unreadv
Great Britain? Chaotic a. the situa-
ton everywhere 10, We cherish tina
hope that under FREQ institutions the
salvation OF mankind is as certain as
the lapse OF time: but what II Ger
many. had crushed Europe with an
iron hand. subordinated Asia to her
| will and then turned her power to-
ward America? I do not know. no
mortal can know. whether her far
reaching designs could. under any cir
cumstances: have been carried into
one country, small in territory, weak
t-comparatively-in military streneth.
but Incompatible in Loyalty to
Christian civilization and human lib
by the loftiest ideals, stood in ira