The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-10
Text of Presidents Speech to Senate

the celebration Of the Fourth OF
July last year in Parts out OF gen
erous courtesy-with no heart for
fcstivity. little zest for hope,
But they came away with some
thing new at their hearts; they have
themselves told us so. The mere sight
OF our men--of their vigor. OF the
confidence that showed itself in every
movement Of their stalwart figures
and every turn OF their swinging
march. in their steady, comprehend
ing eyes and easy discipline. In the
indomitable air that added spirit to
everything they did-made every one
who saw them that memorable day
realize that something had happened
that was much more than mere
incident in the fighting. something
very different from the mere arrival
OF fresh troops.
Great Moral Force
4 great moral force had flung Il.
self into the struggle. Tho fine phys
icsl force OF those spirited men spoke
OF something more than bodily vigor.
They carried the great ideals OF a
free people at their hearts. and that
with that vision uncomfortable.
Their very presence brought reas.
surance: their fighting made victory
certain.
They were recognized as crusad.
ers. and as their thousands swelled
to millions their strength was seen
TO mean salvation. And they were
fit men to carry such a hope and
make good the assurance II fore
cast, Finer men never went into
battle: and their officers were
worthy OF them.
This is not the occasion upon
which to utter a eulogy OF the ar.
mics America sent 10 France. but
perhaps. since ! am speaking OF
their mission. may speak also of
the pride / shared with every Amer.
lean who saw or dealt with them
there. They were the sort Of men
America would wish TO be repre-.
scented by; the sort OF men every
man would wish to claim as fellow
countrymen and comrades In a
great cause.
They were terrible In battle.
and gentle and helpful out Of
II. remembering the mothers
and the sisters. the wives and
the little children at home. They
were free men under arms. not
Forgetting their ideals Of duty
In the midst Of tasks Of VIC
lence. ! am proud to have had
the privilege of1being associated
with them and Of calling my
self their leader.
But / now speak OF what they
meant TO the men by whose sides
they fought and to the people with
whom they mingled with such utter
simplicity as friends who asked only
to be OF service. They were for all
the visible embodiment OF America.
What they did made America and
all that she stood for a living real
ity in the thoughts not only OF the
people Of France, but also OF tens
of millions OF men and women thru.
out all the toiling nations OF a
world standing everywhere in peril
OF its freedom and OF the loss OF
everything II held dear; in deadly
fear that its bonds were never 10
be loosed- its hopes forever TO be
Knocked and disappointed.
And the compulsion OF what they
stood for was upon us who repre-
scented America at the peace table.
II was our duty to see to IL that
every decision we took part in con-
tributed. so far as we were able 10
influence IL. to quiet the fears and
realize the hopes OF the peoples
who had been living in that shadow;
the nations that had come by our
assistance TO their freedom. II was
our duty TO do everything that was
within our power to do to make
the triumph of freedom and OF
right lasting triumph in the as
surance OF which men might ev-
erywhere live without fear.
Old Entanglements
Old entanglements OF every kind
stood In the way-promlses which
governments had made to one an
other in the days when might and
right were confused and the power
OF the victor was without restraint.
ENGAGEMENTS which contemplated
any dispositions OF territory. any
extensions OF sovereignty that