The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-09
~ :rusT1N M,GRATH

~ &Qa6ang more interesting TO most
p0op1o than tha biographies or auto
AlugrMDAies Of the great. There 10
sAaolnAtfcn for nearly everybody In
1issinkuishsd personality. The day OF
hurU worship not emily 10 not past. but
4,ssver Will As past True the people OF
wrrsfs ii d,Srrr,zn,ba hon shhu snlr- asN
fsned Limitations than their ancestors
~ former centuries. This Ii due TO
the wider education that prevails In
fhe world today. But while the hero
yoswhip Of today undoubtedly LIZ
more discriminating. II IN mistake
10 conclude from that fact that II Is
any the less fervid
There never was = Tins In thu his
tory OF the human r.cs when leader
ehip was Of more account than 1t liz
today. and hardly think IT IS an eS-
Asxerafion to say that there never
VAS d time when the thinking man of
the world. az least had a deeper adj
n4irxtson for the leaders who best
voics their aspirations, who must
vaIIansly and. most consistently battle
Tor the prinftries IN whihh they be-
lfeye and who must pa1nstGksngly and
unAeIfishiv labor 70 &mpro the well
faro of their own people and tina
human rare
These great Ynsn~-these great In
ssliects-are IN. shore lights by tbs
radiance of whose genius alone the
average mariner on the troubled
political seas can hope TO reach safe
mort. And realizing how much he
must rely ~, tfssal for his security, II
8 natural that M should hold I'm high
regard. If NOT In grateful affection,
those on whose hrIiliance and steadi-
nesa he feels his political welfare
fnUAt dependent aud should be inter
eated in everything that pertains to
4ham.
Never before tn history has such an
opportunity been presented 10 study
great personalities ss that which Is
now available 20 the accredited cor
respondent IN Paris For never be-
fore has there b@en such a gathering
0f the great OF ali The world as that
at the Werid Peace conference. The
observation Ut first In rust n bit dax~
Hiing. It ia IKE what getting "a close
Nv Of the armament would he II
aneh . thing were possible.
FIRST MAGNITUDE PLANS
The great stars in the peace con-
terence armament unquestionaslv are
Eroeldsnt Wilson. Lloyd George and
CsoEnenceah The average world 1udg-
ment Of them probably would rank
This conclusion not from the view
point OF IN American. but from the
observations hava heard from citi-
1sns OF other countries and from the
estimates I have read in the European
prAeA Read, for instance. thts com-
ment from the London Ttmes ON
President w1lsons standing ana In
fluenca In The peace conferences;
The president IN unlikely 70 stay
long ~ the conference. but 20 long
~ be does stay he win play an i'm
portHnt part. not only by reason Of
his great officA. but also because In
has il i special ssnss made the cause
Of the new democracy his own. with
i out his championship 1t In doubtful
whether the league OF nations would
have attained the high place that II
has now got In the programme of the
conference. while the high ideals OF
his fourteen points serve m q useful
antadote to rnoss selfish national am
bttions. The president is, In fact
though enjoying only the qualified
PARTY In the United States. regarded
~ liberalism the world over n one
Of its chief leaders and spokssmen."
WILSON LIBERAL LEADER
That IN interesting. In It not--ths
] fact that despite the opposition Il
him by certain partisAns and certain
interests IN his own country. the pres
idsnt In regarded by Liberalism thu
world ovst ~ one Of its chief leaders
ana spokesmen. Ths progressive.
In the United States ought to find 4
lot Of food for reflection IN that as
serfion.
Tho American school teacher 10 no~
educating tbs world TO new ideals q
liberty and justice. Ana he does no
Mediate TO tsll the select classes al
mankind" that thsy must broader
their eympathiss II they hope to re
fafn any part OF their prestige and
influence In shaping the affairs of tn.
Z. woEI6. In the future. = 1900, -r.
II seems to the humble observer
hars that they would do well to heed
him, that they would DO we'll grace
faily and graciousiy TO accept his
sans liberalism, lest they get some
thing unreasonable, something based
Mpon prejudice and passion. rather
1hAn upon principle and right. And II
qualification Of that humble opinion
III ne sxy that it Ii current gossip
{ hare I'm P&ris that 40 strong La thu
president with the plain people o
france that Cicmenceau. although
far from being In complete ACCORD
with the more advanced liberal ideas
openly to oppose him. as his Ministr,
4 quickly would be overthrown II h,
l did II that he true of France. admit
todW far less radically phogressivs
u than Great Britain 1t 10 certain tina
the presidents ideas of the new
dem ocracy have taken an even ftrmel
hold on the British.
In art OF expression prSsident VII
son - generally conceded TO be with
ont Z peer among present day states
man OF the world. But his great in
duencs In the councils OF the worlt
II not based upon the unexceilet
Ahiliky with which no usss words
n nnd COINS phrases Fine words Ant
1eno phrases are OF no greater account
III this day ard generation unless
n They garment fine IDEAS. II ts hi
appalling IDEAS which have g.ver
xlAA president his widespread influence
d THAT he IL able to c1othe then
Il 70 beautifully is of course an ad
vantage. The combination Of fine
IDEAS And fine words ss irresistible
4 10 ether American hes had NOR.
WNrld-wide celebrity than Mr. VIII
EssM0ssv and mere will loom 60 large In
N0Ffd higtory. for IT ha. been gtver
m meme other 10 play no conspicuoui
1va4