The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-05
Text of the Presidents Address

IneTe are many OlIeTenCeb VI
judgment as to policy-and per-
fectly legitimate. Sometimes pro-
found differences Of judgment. but
those are not differences of senti-
ment, those are not differences OF
purpose, those are not differences OF
ideals. And the advantage OF not
having to have anything explained
to you is that you recognize a
wrong explanation when you hear II.
In q certain rather abandoned
part OF the frontier at one time it
was said they found a man who told
the truth; he was not found telling
1t, but he could tell 1t when he
heard 1t. And think am in that
situation with regard to some Of
the criticisms l have heard. They
do not make any impression on me
because l know there is no medium
that will transmit them, that the
sentiment of the country is proof
against such narrowness and such
selfishness as that.
commend these gentlemen to
communion with their fellow citi-
Gems.
what are we to say. then. as to
the future? I think, my fellow cit
liens, that we can look forward to
1t with great confidence. l have
heard cheering news since 1 came
to this side of the water about the
progress that is being made in Paris
toward the discussion and clarifi-
cation of a great many difficult
matters and believe : that settle
ments will begin to be made rather
rapidly from this time on at those
conferences.
Are Gathering Heart.
But what believe-what know
as well as believes this: that the
men engaged in those conferences
are gathering heart as they go, not
losing It: that they are finding
community Of purpose and commu-
nifty OF ideal to an extent that per-
haps they did not expect; and that
amidst all the interplay of infiu-
ence-because II u infinitely com
plicated-amidst all the interplay
of influence there Is forward
movement which is running toward
the right.
Men have at last perceived that
the only permanent thing In the
world is right and that a wrong
settlements bound to be, tempo
rary aforementioned to be a
temporary settlement for the very
best reason of all, that it ought to
be a temporary settlement, and
the spirits OF men will rebel against
it, and the spirits OF men are now
in the saddle.
When I was In Italy little limp
ing group OF wounded Italian SOL
diers sought an interview with me.
/ could not conjecture what 1t was
they were going to say to me. and
with the greatest simplicity. with
a touching simplicity, they pre-
scented me with petition in favor
OF the League OF Nations.
Their wounded limbs, their i'm
paired vitality were the only argu-
ment they brought with them. 1t
was a simple request that I lend all
the influence that I might happen
tions Of the sacrifices that they
had been obliged to make.
That appeal has remained in my
mind as I have ridden along the
streets in European capitals, and
heard cries OF the crowd, cries for
the League of Nations from lips of
people who, I venture to say, had
no particular notion of how II was
to be done. who were not ready to
propose a plan for a League of
Nations, but whose hearts said that
something by way of a combination
Of all men everywhere must come
out OF this.
What the Flowers Meant.
AS we drove along the country
roads weak old women would come
out and hold flowers to us. Why
should they hold flowers up to
strangers from across the Atlantic7
Only because they believed that we
were the messengers of friendship
their humble offerings Of gratitude
that friends from so great a dis
lance should have brought them so
great hope.
II Is inconceivable that We should
disappoint them. and we shall not.
The day will come when men in
America will look back with swell
ing hearts and rising pride that
they should have been privileged
to make the sacrifice which 1t was
necessary to make In order to COM
bine their might and their moral
power with the cause of justice for
men OF every kind everywhere.
God give us the strength and
vision to do It wisely. God give us
the privilege of knowing that we
did II without counting the cost,
and because We were true Ameri-
cans, lovers OF liberty and of the
right