The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-05

tion hampers it, binds it, except to enter into a combination with some other na- tor against the other nations or the world. And this great disentanglement or all alliances is now to be accomplished by this covenant, because one of the cove nants is that no nation shall enter into any relationship with another nation m consistent with the covenants of the league of nations.
 ALLIANCE BARRED
 Nations promise not to have alliances Nations promise not to make combna- tions against each other, nations agree that there shall be but one combination, and that is the combination of all agalnst the wrongdoer. And so l am going to back my task on the other side with re newed vigor l had not forgotten what the spirit of the American people is but I have been immensely refreshed by com ing in contact with it again. did not know how good home felt until l got there.
 "The only place a man can feel at home is where nothing has to be explained to him. Nothing has to be explained to me in America. least of all the sentiment of the American people, I mean about great fundamental things like this There are many differences of judgment as to pot icy, and perfectly legitimate, sometimes U these are not differences of sentiment; those are not differences of purpose; are not differences of ideals And the advantage of not having to have any thing explained to you is that you recog- nize a wrong explanation when you hear it.
 Tn a certain rather abandoned part of the frontier at one time, 1t was sald they found man who told the truth; he taI1 if he COnlU tell it when he heard it. And I think am in that situation with regard to some of the criticisms I have heard. They do not make any impression on me- because know there is no medium that will tra lsmit them; that the sentiment Of the country is proof against such narrowness and such selfishness as that. l commend fellow citizens.
 What are we to say, then, as to the future? I think, my fellow citizens. that we can look forward to it with great con- fidence. I have heard cheering news since came to this side of the water about the progress that is being made in Paris toward the discussion and clarification of a great many difficult matters, and l be- iieve that settlements will begin to be made rather rapidly from this time on at these conferences
 RIGHT IS PERMANENT
 "But what I believe, what I know as well as believe, is this: that the men en- gagged in those conferences are gathering heart as they go, not losing it; that they are finding community of purpose and community of ideal, to an extent that perhaps they did not expect; and that amidst all the interplay of influence, be- cause it i:; infinitely complicated, amidst all the interplay of influence, there is forward movement which is running to- ward the right Men have at last per ceived that the only permanent thing in the world is the right and that wrong settlement is bound to be temporary settlemeyt, bound to be a temporary set clement for the very best reason of all, that it ought to be temporary settle ment, and the spirits of men will rebel against it, and the spirits of men are now in the saddle.
 .When I was in Italy, little limping group of wounded Italian soldiers sought an interview with me. 1 could not con- lecture what it was they were going to say to &ne, and with the greatest sim plicty, with touching simplicity, they presented me with petition in favor of the league of nations. Their wounded limbs, their impaired vitality were the only argument they brought with them, 1t was simple request that l lend all the influence that I might happen to have to relieve future generations of the sac rifices that they had been obliged to make.
 "That appeal has remained in my mind as have ridden along the streets in Eu- ropean capitals, and heard cries Of the crowd, cries for the league of nations from lips of people who. venture to say. had no particular notion of how it was to be done. who were not ready to propose plan for league of nations, but whose hearts said that something by way of combinaticr of all men everywhere mus. come out of this.
 GAS we drcvc along country roads weak old women would come out and hold flowers to us. Why should they hold flowers rp tc strangers from across the Atlantic? Only because they believed that we were the messengers of friend ship and of hope. and these flowers were their Tumble offerings of gratitude that friends from so great distance should nave brought them so great hope.
 t'It is incorceivable that we should dis appoint them, and we shall not. The day will come Nhzr men in America will look back with swelling hearts and rising