Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-09-11
PRESIDENT SAYS OUR PROMISE
TO TRY TO PREVENT FUTURE
WARS SHOULD BE KEPT.
ONLY HOPE IS IN WORLD LEAGUE
Says Germany Would Not Have Dared
to Strike If Nations Had Been
Banded Against Aggression.
(By Mt. Clemens News Bureau.)


great majority agree with him in his
desire to end war forever, and that
the peace treaty with it's League of
Nations inclusion is ratified by the
senate, President Wilson is making
successful way across the country on
the long journey he has undertaken
Tor the purpose Of laying before the
plain pebble a report of his work in
Paris and explaining to them just
what the League means.
Thus far in his travels he has every
where met with warm greetings, both
IN the great halls where he has
road hamlets where his train has
halted at times and he has exchanged
words with the villagers who pressed
forward to greet him. He feels, and
does not hesitate to say SO when
chatting with his travelling compan-
ions, that the American people want
no more Of war and want to become
part Of the League SO that there may
be no more war. He struck his key
note when he said in his first address,
In Columbus, Ohio: ~ .'s';.sr,r.- -.
q This treaty was not intended mere
ly to end this single war. It is meant
is notice to every government who
Ia the future will attempt this thing
iwhat Germany attemgtedl that man NJ i;
kind will unite to inflict the same pun
ishment. There is no national
triumph to be recorded in this treaty
There is no glory sought for any par
ticular nation. The thought of the
statesmen COLLECTED around that table
was Of their people, of the sufferings
they had gone through, of the losses
they had incurred, Of that great throb-
hing heart which was So depressed,
30 forlorn SO sad in every memory 1t
had of the five tragical years that
have gone by. Let us never forget
those years, my fellow countrymen;
let us never forget the purpose, high
and disinterested, with which America
lent its strength, not for its own glory
but for the defense of mankind.
"As I said, this treaty was not
meant merely to end this war. 1t is
Intended to prevent any similar war.
1 wonder if some of the opponents of
the League of Nations have forgotten
/ the promises we made our people be-
y fore we went to that peace table? We
had taken by process Of law the
flower Of our youth from every coune
tryside, from every household, and we,
told those mothers and fathers and
sisters and wives and sweethearts
that we were taking those men to
fight war which would end business
OF. that sort, and ii we do not end it,
five do not do the best that human
concert of action can do to end 1t, we
inf
the most unfaithful ITO the loving
hearts who suffered in this war, the
most unfaithful to those households
bowed in grief and yet lifted with the
feeling that the lad laid down his life
for great thing, and, among other
. things, in order that other lads might
never have to do the same thing.
nThat is what the League Sof Ma
lions is for-to end this war Justly
and then not merely to serve notice
ON governments which could contem-
plate that they will do SO at their peril,
hut also concerning the combination
of power which will prove to them
that they will do it at their peril 1t is
idle to say the worlds will combine
against you; but it is persuasive to
say the world is combined against
you: The League OF Natlons
is the only thing that can prevent the
recurrence Of this dreadful catastrophe
and redeem our promises.
A League of Nations would have
prevented the late conflict, the presi-
dent asserted, explaining:
ST did not meet single public man
who did not admit these things; that
Germany would not have gone into
this war if she thought Great Britain
was going into it, and she most GER
tainly would never have gone into II
had she dreamed America was going
. into it. And they all admit that
notice beforehand that the greatest
nowers of the world would combine tc
enreyent this sort of thing would pre-
vent it absolutely
Zach declaration Of the presi
Sant that wars might be avoid
cd in the future by operations
oS the League. He pointed out Other
imnortant features of the Peace
Treaty how it was the redemption Of
weak nations, giving them freedom
witch otherwise they never coule
have won: how it says "These people
have right to live their own lives
nnder governments which they them
selves choose, and how that is the
American Principle and was glad t.
fight for it,, and that was the very
heart Of the Treaty, he said.
He drew attention to the section o
the Treaty which is a Magma charts
of Labor" which shall dispose OF thu
hours. conditions and remuneration
Is <f To hnr - 3
ut forecasts the day, he sail
(Which ought to have come long ago
when statesmen will realize that NJ
nation is fortunate which is not hap
DIV. whose people are not contented
contented l.: their lives and fortunate
in the circumstances of their lives.
In conclusion the president said he
felt certain the Treaty will be accept
ed. and was only impatient of the de
Law. He added: do you realize, my
fellow citizens, that the whole world
is waiting on America? The only
country in the world that is trustet
~ IN