The Washington times., 1919-02-25

or It? j do not mean any diSreSpecI
to any other great people when 1 say
that America is the hope of the world
and IL she does not justify that hope
the results are unthinkable. Men
will be thrown back upon the bitter
ness of disappointment not only but
the bitterness OF despair. All ma
tions will be set up. as hostile camps
again; the men at the peace confer
ence will go home with their heads
upon their breasts, knowing that they
have failed-for they were hidden nos
to come home from there until thew
did something more than sign a
treaty OF peace.
Must De Strong Peace.
suppose we sign the treaty OF
peace and that it is the most salts
factory treaty OF peace that the con-
fusing elements of the modern world
will afford, and go home and think
about our labors. We will know that
we have left written upon the historic
table at Versailles. upon which Yer
gennes and Benjamin Franklin Wrote
their names, nothing but a modern
scrap OF paper; no nations united to
defend il: no great forces combined
to make Il good: no assurance given
TO the doWntrodden and fearful peo-
pie Of the world that they shall be
safe. Any man who thinks that
America will take part in giving the
world any such rebuff and disappOint-
ment as that does not know America.
And so. my fellow citizens, / have
come back to report progress. and I
do nos believe that the progress is
going TO stop short OF the goal. The
nations OF the world have set their
heads now 70 do a great thing and
they are not going to slacken their
purpose. And when I speak Of the
nations OF the world. 7 10 rot speak
the governments OF the world. I
speak Of the peoples VINO constitute
the nations OF the world. They are
in the saddle. and they are going to
see to it that il present governments
do not do their will, some other gov
ernments 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 knowledge.
There is a great deal Of sympathy to
be got out of living in the same at
mosphere. and except for the differ
ences Of languages. which puzzled my
American ear very sadly. I could be-
Iieve / was at home in France or in
Italy or in England. when I was in
the streets. when I was in the pres
ence OF the crowds. when I was in
great halls where men were gath
cred irrespective OF class.
Felt Mt Home.
"I did not feel quite as much at
home as do here. but I felt that
now. at any rate. after this storm
OF the war had cleared the air. men
were seeing eye to eye everywhere,
and that these were the kind OF folks
who would understand that the folks
at home were thinking the same
thing. l feel about you as ! am re-
minded Of a story Of that excellent
wit and 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
bov. how are you He looked at
him rather coIdly. He said. I don't
know your name, ! don't know your
face. but your manners are very IA
miliar.' and l must say that your
manners are very familiar and, let
me add. very delightful.
1T is a great comfort. for one
thing. to realize that YOU all under
stand the language / am speaking. 4
friend Of mine said that an inter
prefer was like Witnessing the COM
pound fracture OF an idea. But the
beauty Of il is that whatever the i'm
pediments OF the channel OF com
munication the idea is the same. that
il gets registered. and il gets regis
tered in responsive hearts and re
Ceptive purposes
Il have come back for a strenuous
attempt to transact business for
little while in America. but I have
really come back to say to you, in
all soberness and honesty. that l
have been trying my best TO speak
your thoughts.
"Whea / sample myself ] think
find that / am a typical American,
and if I sample deep enough and get
down to that probably is the true
stuff of the men. then | have hope
that 1t is part Of the stuff that IS
like the other fellows at home.
And therefore probing deep in my
heart and trying 10 see the things
that are right without regard to the
things that may be debated as eXpe-
dient, I feel that I am interpreting
the purpose and the thought of Amer
lea. and in loving America l find
have Joined the great majority Of MY
fellow men throughout; tho world.