The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-03-08
Tells Great Crowd in New York
That He Goes Back to Paris
to Battle for League OF
Nations.
CAREFUL SELFISHNESS
REJECTED BY AMERICA
Woodrow Wilson Goes Back to
$ Paris to Tell Peace Confer
enee That Overwhelming Ma
iority of People Stand Behind
League Of Nations to Put End
g to War.


New York. March President
Wilson told the American people IN
a. naddress here tonight on the eve OF
his return TO Paris that he was go
ing back to the peace conference to
battle with renewed vigor for cfea-
ton of a league of nations.
. .sThe FIRST thing am going to -ell
the people on the other side Of the
water is that an overwhelming ma
iority OF the American people is IN
favor of the league of nations said
the president.
Speaking after Former President
Taft had expounded the main fea-
tares Of the proposed covenant Of na-
tons, Mr.. Wilson told the vast aud
ienee, which filed the Metropolitan
Opera House, his opinions Of oppon-
ents Of the league plan in America.
..No party has the right to appro-
pirate this issue and no party will IN
the long. run dare oppose it, he as
serted.
Asserting that the league OF nations
is meant as notice to all outlaw ma
tons that the great peoples OF the
world viii no longer tolerate inter-
national crimes the president said
that Europe is a 'fbit sick at heart
at this very moment, because it sees
that statesmen have had no vision
and that the only vision has been the
vision of the people"
seAnd am amazed-not alarmed
but amazed, that there should be IN
some quarters such a comprehensive
Ignorance Of the state Of the world,
continued Mr.. Wilson. Those gen
4lemen do not know what the mind
Df men is just now. Everybody else
does:
ssJ do not know where they have
been closeted. I do not know by what
influences they have been blinded;
but4I do know. that they have been
separated from the general currents
of.the thought Of mankind. And /
want to- utter this solemn warning,
not in the way Of a threat; the forces
Of the world do not threaten, they
operate. The great tides Of the
world do not give notice that they are
going to rise and run; they rise IN
sheir majesty and Overwhelming
might and those who stand in he
way are overwhelmed.
s,Now the heart Of the world Is
awake and the hearts Of the world
must be. satisfied"
Americas soldiers" he said, went
over seas feeling they were sacredly
bound to the realization of those
ideals which their president had
enunciated when the United States
went into the war
There is another thing" the presi-
dent said. which critics Of the league
had not observed.
They not only have not observed
the. temper Of the world but they have
not even observed the temper OF
those splendid boys in khaki that
they sent across the seas he as
serted.
..And do you suppose continued
the president, that having felt that
crusading spirit of these youngsters,
who went over there not to glorify
America but to serve their fellow
men, I am going to permit myself
For one moment to slacken in my
effort to be worthy of them and OF
their cause? I do not mean 20 come
back until its over over there. And
it must not be over until the nations
OF the world are assured Of the per-
nlanency Of peace"
Opponents of the league in this
country do not comprehend the tenn
per and desire of European states
men, said the president. who added
that 'there is not one Of them with
whom i have come in contact VINO
does not feel that ne cannot in con-
science return to his people from
Paris unless he has done his utmost
to do something more than attach his
name to treaty Of peace"
Asserting that "the structure Of
peace will not be vital without the
league Of nations" the president cor
tinued:
81 must say that have been puz-
not imagine how these gentlemen can
live and not live in the atmosphere
Of the world. -. particularly can
not imagine now they can be Amer
leans. and set up doctrine Of careful
se]fshness. thought out to the last
detail.
IT have heard no counsel of gene
rossty in their criticisms. I have
heard no constructive suggestion
OF George Washington's warning
OF entangling alliances President VII
son said: THE thing that he longed
for was just what we are now about
to supply-an arrangement which
will disentangle all the alliances in
the world
The president said criticisms Of the
league ''do not make any impression
on me" because 'the sentiment Of the
country is proof against such mar
Towness and such seifishness as that
In closing the president said Amer
lea could look forward with conf
dence to the future for he had heard
cheering news since he came to this
side Of the water about the progress
that is being made in Paris.
Governor Smith Of New York pre-
sided at the meeting and introduced