Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-27

vision. possibly. as passing days bring
the wisdom, Of experience. new in
terpretations. new situations to be
met: but for it. there must be a basis,
Of it a beginning must be made. Its.
value will lie rather in it's spirit than
In it's text. II 1t exists and need arises
1t will he applied in the best possible
way. no matter what it's text may be.
Il do not discuss the text because I
know 1t Is not perfect and cannot be
at this time, and know that IL it is
not perfect 1t will be amended to per-
lection later.
That which 1t Is necessary that we
shouldi do, Ia to. avoid giving to, tho,
enemies. of yesterday, who certainly
have not become our friends. although
they hayea yielded to- our force. the
idea that they may attack again to-
morrow after they have rearranged
their forces and regained their breath.
And that the treaty may seem to pro-
vide. especially for the protection Of
France ia no argument against 1t. but
is an argument in favor of 1t. for the
destruction of France would mean not
only satisfaction for the enemy, but
the beginning Of the end of human
freedom which means civilization.
France has always been the friend
Of America, but before the war
France did not know America. When
I went back to France from a previous
visit explaining that America is
country Of idealism my people laughed
at me. These same people know now
how right Twas.
''They have seen. that after two years
Of quite, natural hesitation, two years
Of quite. new education. the whole
nation Of the United States rose as
one man to improvise military force
of millions and: send 1t to France, to
fight, not as q, generous mob, but as
q disciplined and competent Army;
they realize that this WAS done from
no confederation of self-interest. not
for the sake Of preserving personal
fortunes or even national institutions,
but to defend France because France
had been forced to stand as the pro-
tector Of the liberties of all.
Il take it that to the minds Of the
American people France ceased to be
a threatened nation and became a
principle which in some degree ex-
pressed the, ideals, of the, American
people. Attacking that, the enemy at
tackled America.
r 4 4 X
I'm other words Germany discov-
cred autocracy discovered that
while, they could bring against us
millions of men quickly, we had, far
away, friends who could come slowly
to, our aid. Let them know that in
the future this coalition of the right
eous forces Of the world has been
arranged for instantaneous function
ing and they will hesitate and finally
refrain.
ut is impossible for me to tell
you the impression that Americas
soldiers have made upon France.
They came to US and. looking at
them, we knew that they had come to
live or die with us, for us. We new
er can forget that. Instantly were
we prepared to live or die with or
for them. An alliance with the coun-
try whence these men came would
be to us a comfort and far more than
that-a joy of brotherhood.
IF, that, after the armistice. when
in fighting there was nothing more
to be done, when there was no more
reason why Git seemed to them) that
they should remain far from their
own homes. your soldiers may have
been unhappy. discontinued in our
country. was inevitable: but in the
main we hope that during their So
journ with us they became our
friends, as they made US their
friends. If there ever has been crit
icism of Americans in France, it has
arisen from the same causes that are
likely to produce discord anywhere.
THE better folk in France regard
each word Of criticism of America as
shameful. almost as blasphemy.
Our two enthusiasms met when It
was necessary, though tardily be-
cause Of lack of previous arrange
ment. In the future we must see to
it that they may meet with prompt
ness and efficiency. But IL this is
arranged for then there will not be
necessity for their meeting in cO-ef-
fort along the dark and bloody lines
OF warfare. If it is arranged for
they may meet continuously and
lines Of peace and happiness. Of the
development of human progress. Our
union would extraordinarily serve to
develop the prosperity of the whole
world