The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-25

I would not have you understand
that the great men who represent
the other nations there in confer
ence are disesteemed by those who
know them. Quite the contrary.
But you understand that the nations
OF Europe have again and again
clashed with one another In compet-
tive interest. II Is impossible for
men to forget those sharp issues
that were drawn between them in
times past.
1t Is impossible for men to believe
that all ambitions have all Of a sud
den been foregone. They remember
territory that was coveted: they re-
member rights that It was attempt
cd to eXtort; they remember politi-
cal ambitions which 1t was at
tempted to realize, and, while they
believe that men have come into
different temper they cannot forget
these things, and so they do not re-
sort to one another for a dispassion-
ate view Of the matters in contro-
yersy. They resort to that nation
which has won the envlable distinc-
tion OF being regarded as the friend
Of mankind.
Whenever It is desired TO send a
small force OF soldiers to occupy a
piece of territory where 1t is
thought nobody else will be well
come they ask for American SOL
diers. and where other soldiers
would be looked upon with suspi-
cion and perhaps met with resist
ance the American soldier Is well
coined with acclaim.
I have had so many grounds for
pride on the other side OF the water
that I am very thankful that they
are not grounds for personal pride,
but for national pride. II they
we're grounds for personal pride I'd
be the most stuck up man in the
world. and It has been an infinite
pleasure to me to see those gallant
soldiers Spf ours. of whom the Con-
stitution of the United States made
me the proud commander.
You may be proud of the T'wen-
ty-sixth Division. but ] commanded
the Twenty-siNth Division, and see
what they did under my direction.
Aud. every body praises the Ameri-
can soldier with the feeling that In
the credit Of TO one else.
Europe's Belief in America.
have been searching for the
fundamental fact that converted
Europe to believe in us. Before
this war Europe did not believe in
us as she does now. She did not
believe in us throughout the first
three years of the war. She seems
really to have believed that We were
holding Off because We thought we
could make more by staying out
than by going in. And all Of a
sudden, in a short eighteen months,
the whole verdict is reversed.
There can be but one explanation
for It. They saw what we did
that without making a single claim
we put all our men and all our
means at the disposal of those who
were fighting for their homes, in
the first instance, but for a cause.
the cause OF human rights and JUS
tice. and that We went in not to
support their national claims but
TO support the great cause which
they held In common.
And when they saw that Amer
lea not only held ideals but acted
ideals they were converted to Amer
lea and became firm part!sans OF
those ideals.
met a group OF scholars when
I was in Paris-some gentlemen
from one of the Greek universities
who had come to see me, and in
whose presence, or rather in the
presence of whose traditions of
learning. l felt very young indeed.
/ told them that l had one OF the
delightful revenges that sometimes
come to a man. All my life l had
heard men speak with a sort of
condescension OF ideals and OF ideal
lists. and particularly those sepa-
rated, encloistured persons whom
.hcy choose TO Term academic. who
we're in the habit OF uttering ideals
III the Tree at'nospheie "n my
ciash WIFI ''ooouS Al par '''ou'"'
,,.,. s. p.~.,
And I said l have had this sweet
revenge. Speaking with perfect
frankness in the name OF the people
~ the United States have uttered
Ms the objects OF this great war
lsaals and pothinr hut ideals and