The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-02-28

from MS human kin0 forever.
The Europe that left the othel
, day was full of something that it had
never felt fill its heart so full before
: II was full Of hope. The Europe oi
th esecond year OF the war. the Eu
rope Of the third year Of the war, was
sinking to sort of stubborn desper
ation. They did not see any grea.
thing to be achieved even when the
war should be won. They hoped
there would be some salvage; they
hoped that they could clear their ter
ritories Of invading armies; they
hoped they could set up their homes
and start their industries afresh. But
they thought it would simpl:v be the
resumption OF the old life that Eu
rope had-led in fear, led in anxiety
led in constant suspicious watchful
ness. Toy never dreamed that Il
would be a Europe Of settled peace
and Of justified hope.
All Peoples Buoyed Up.
And now these ideals have wrought
this new magic, that all the peoples
OF Europe are buoyed up and conf
dent In the spirit of hope. because
they believe that We are at the eve
Of a new age II, the world when na
tons win understand one another,
when nations will support one anoth
er in every just cause, when nations
VIII unite every moral and every ply
sical strength to see that the right
Shall prevail
II America were at this juncture to
fail the world, what would come OF
it? l do not mean any disrespect to
any other great people when I say
that America is the hope of the world,
and if she does not justify that hope
the results are unthinkable. Men will
be thrown back upon the bitterness
Of disappointment not only, but the
bitterness of despair. ALI nations
will be set up as hostile camps again
the men at the peace conference will
go home with their heads upon their
breasts, knowing that they have fail
ed-for they were hidden not to come
home from there until they did some.
thing more than sign treaty OF
peace.
Suppose I've sign the treaty Of peace
and that it is the most satisfactory
treaty of peace that the confusing ele'
ments of the modern world will at.
ford and go home and think about our
labors; we will know that we have
left written upon the historic table at
Versailles, upon which Vergeness and
BENJAMIN Franklin wrote their names,
nothing but modern scrap Of paper.
No nations united to defend, no great
forces combined to make it good, no
assurance given to the downtrodden
and fearful people 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 disappointment as that does not
know America.
Challenge to Critics.
invite him to test the sentiments
of the nation. We set this up to make
men free, and we did not confine our
conception and purpose to America,
and now we will make men free. If
we did not do that, the fame of Amer
lea would be gone and all her powers
would be dissipated. She then would
have to keep her power for those mar
row, selfish, provincial purposes which
seem so dear to some minds that have
no sweep beyond the nearest horizon.
/ should welcome no sweeter chal-
lenge than that. have fighting blood
in me aud it is sometimes a delight
to let it have scope, but if it is a
challenge on this occasion it will be
an indulgence. Think of the picture,
think of the utter blackness that
would fall on the world-America has
failed. America made a little essay
at generosity and then withdrew.
America said: eve are your friends" !"
but it was only for today. not for to-
morrow. America said: "Here is our
power to vindicate right" and then
the next day said: "Let right take
care of itself and we will take care
of ourselves" America said: 1--WE set
up a light to lead men along the paths
of liberty but we have lowered it, it is
intended only to light our own path"
We set up a great deal of liberty,
and then we said: Liberty is thing
that you must win for yourself, do not
call upon us" And think OF the
world that we would leave. Do you
realize how many new nations are go
ing to be set up in the presence OF old
and powerful nations in Europe and
left there, if left by US, without dis
interested friend?
What of the Helpless?
Do you believe in the Polish cause