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

FOten0 ana Armentm.
DO you believe In the Polish
cause, as I do? Are you going to
set up Poland, immature. inexpe-
rienced, as yet. unorganized, and
leave her. with circle of armies
around her? Do you believe in the
aspiration of the Czecho-S -Slovaks
and the Jugo-Slavs as I do? DO
you know how many Powers would
be quick to pounce upon them II
there were not the guarantees OF
the world behind their liberty?
Have you thought Of the suffer-
ings OF Armenia? You poured out
your money to help succor the Ar
menians after they suffered; now
set your strength so that they shall
never suffer again.
The arrangements of.the present
peace cannot stand generation
unless they are guaranteed by the
united forces OF the civilized world.
And IL We do not guarantee them
cannot you not see the picture?
Your hearts have instructed you
where the burden OF this war fell.
treasures, Il did not fall upon the
instruments of administration, 1t
did not fall upon the resources of
the nation. II fell upon the victims
homes everywhere, where women
were toiling in hope that their men
would come back.
When think of the homes upon
which dull despair would settle
we're this great hope disappointed,
l should wish for my part never
TO have had America play any
part whatever in this attempt
to emancipate the world. But I
talk as II there we're any question.
! have no more doubt Of the verdict
Of America in this matter than l
have doubt of the blood that is
in me.
No stopping short OF Goal.
And so, my fellow citizens. I have
come back to report progress. and
I do not believe that the progress
Is going to stop short of the goal.
The nations OF the world have set
their heads now to do n great thing.
and they are. not getns to slacken
their purpose. And when speak
OF the nations of the world I DO not
speak OF the governments OF the
world. speak of the peoples who
constitute the nations OF tho world.
They are in the saddle, and they are
going to see TO II that IL their
present governments do not do
their will some other governments
shall, and the secret Is out and the
present governments know It.
There is a great deal OF harmony
to be got out of common knowl-
edge. There Is a great deal OF SYM
pathy TO be got OF living in the
same atmosphere and except for
the differences Of languages, which
puzzled my American ear very
sadly. l could have believed I was
at home in France or in Italy or in
England when I was on the streets.
when I was in the presence OF the
crowds, when I was in great halls
where men were gathered together
irrespective of class.
did not feel quite as much at home
there as I do here, but felt that
now, at any rate. after this storm
OF war had cleared the air, men
were seeing eye TO eye everywhere
and that these We're the kind OF
folks who would understand what
the kind of folks at home would un-
derstand and that they were think
ing the same things.
feel about you as am reminded
OF a story OF that excellent witness
and good artist, Oliver Herford, who
one day. sitting at luncheon at his
club was slapped vigorously on the
back by a man whom he did not
know very well. He said: "Oliver,
old boy, how are you?" He looked
at him rather coidly. He said, IL
don't know your name, don't know
your face, but your manners are
very familiar" And ! must say
that your manners are very famil-
lar and, let me add, very delightful
~ree OF AR.sS-s.
1t is a great comfort for one thing
to realize that you all understand
the language l am speaking. A
friend OF mine said that TO talk
through an interpreter was like
witnessing the compound fracture
| OF an idea But the beauty OF 1t is
that, whatever the impediments OF
the channel Of communication the
idea is the same. that II gets regis
tered. and II gets registered in re-
sponsive hearts and receptive pur-
poses.
have come back for a strenu-
GUS attempt to transact business
for a little while In America but /
have really come back to say to you.
In all soberness and honesty, that
have been trying my best to speak
your thoughts.
When / sample myself I think
find that / am typical American,
and II I sample deep enough and
get down to what is probably the
true stun OF a man, then / have
hope that 1t Is part OF the stun that
Is like the other fellows at home.
And, therefore, probing deep in
my heart and trying to see the
things that are right without regard
to the things that may be debated
as expedieLt, feef that am inter-
rreting the purpose and the thought
OF America; and in loving America
! md have Joined the great ma
jority Of my feilowmen through
| out the world.