The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-24
Wilson, in First Speech, Urges
His Critics to Act.
Says Opposition Fails to Look
Over the First Horizon.
DO NOT KNOW SENTIMENT
Hopes for Lasting Peace Are
Pinned on America.
Has Been in Europe Trying to
Represent People.

Boston, Feb. 24-President Wilson
in his first speech here today, on land
ing from France, invited the critics
of the league of nations plan to test
the sentiment of America"
Men, he declared, who would have
America fail the world in its hopes,
saw only beyond the nearest hori-
zon.
They do not know the sentiment
of America" he said. Speaking of
hopes and aspirations. of the people
of Europe, for lasting peace which he
said was pinned to the United States
and the friend of mankind the presi-
dent said be had no more doubt of
the "verdice of America in this mat
ter than I have doubt of the blood
that is in me-
The nations of the world have set
their heads now to do a great thing
and they are not going to stop short of
their purpose. Il do not speak of the
governments but of the peoples who
will see that if their present govern
ments do not dc their will some others
will. And the secret is out and the
present governments know it.
Trying to Represent People.
Il have come back for an, attempt
to transact business for a Ettle while
in America but I say in all soberness
that 1 have been trying to speak your
thoughts. Probing deep in my heart
fright rather than the things that are
eXpedient, 1 am finding the heart of
America.
Il find that in loving America
have Joined the majority of my fell
low men thruout the world
AS the president concluded. Mayor
Peters called for three cheers which
were given, the audience standing.
mediateIy after the presidential
party left the hall and drove to the
south station for the train which
awaited them for Washington.
Tho Presidents Speech.
The presidents speech follows:
Governor Coolidge. Mr.. Mayor, fellow
Il wonder if you are half as glad to see
me as | am to see you. (ApplauseD A
sec a great body of my fellow citizens
again. because in some respects during
the recent months 1 have been very lone
ly indeed without your comradeship and
counsel and tried at every step of the
work which fell to me to recall what L
sure would be your counsel with re-
gard to the great matters which were under
consideration.
Il do not want you to think that have
not been Hppreciative of the eXtraordinar-
lily generous reception which was given to
me on the other side, in saying that 1t
i do not mean to say that / was not Tery
deeply touched by the cries that came
from the great crowds on the other side.
that I felt them to be a call of greeting z
TO you, rather than to me-
Greeting Not Personal One.
Il did not feel that the greeting was per-
sonal. had in my heart the overcrowning g
pride of being your representative and of
receiving the plaudits of men everywhere
who felt that your hearts beat with theirs
in the cause of liberty. There was no mis-
taking the tone in the voices of those great
crowds. 1t was not a tone of mere greetin 2,
it was not tone of mere generous well
Gomez it was the calling of cOmrade to
comrade. the cry that comes from men who
hay ffng1 for.
friends of liberty should come across the
sea and shake hands with us, to see that
basis and foundation of justice and right
can't tell you the inspiration that came
frem the sentiments that came out of
those simple voices in the crowd.
The proudest thing l think 1 have to re-
port to you is that this great country of
ours is trusted thruout the world.
Il have net come to report the proceed
tngs or the results of the proceedings of
the peace conference; that would be prema-
ture. l say that l have received very
happy impressions from this conference
the impression that while there are many
some dtvergencies Of object, there is never
theless Il common spirit and n common
realization of the necessity of setting up
new standards of right in the world. Be
cause the men who are in conference rea-
iize ms keenly as any American can rea-
lie that they are not the masters of their
people; that they are the servants of their
people and that the spirit of their people
has awakened to a new purpose and new
conception of their power to realize that
purpose and that no man dare go home
from that conference and report anything
less noble than was expected of it.
The conference seems to YOU to &c
slowly from day to day in Paris it seems
TO go slowly; but l wonder if you realize
the compleXity of the task which il has
undertaken II seems as if the settlements
of this war affect and affect directly every
great and l sometimes mink, every small
nation iTh the world. and no one decision
can be made which is not properly linked
in with the great series of other decisions
which must accompany 1t. and 1t must be
reckoned with the final result If the
real inequality and character of that re
suit is to be properly judged.
Hear the Whole Case.
'What we are doing is to hear the whole
case: hear it from the mouths of the me1
most interested: hear 1t from those who
officially commissioned to state il
hear the rival claims: hear the claims thai
affect new nationalities, that affect nev
Continued on Page Four.l .