The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-02-26


Part Never to Have Had America
Play Any Part" in the War.
Boston, Feb. 24.-President Wilson
will fight at home as he has fought
abroad for league o. nations. Re-
turning from France, he had been on
American soil not moro than three
hours today before he thrcwi down the
gauntlet to those who distrust the pro-
he said, on the American ideals which
had won the war for justice and hu-
manity.
An America, confining to her own
territories her conception and pur-
pose to make free, he said, would have
to keep her honor for those narrow,
selfish, provincial purposes which
seem SO dear to some minds that have
no sweep beyond their nearest
horizon"
Before a responsive audience that
filled the biggest auditorium in the
city, the President pictured the Old
World fighting with stubborn despcr-
alton, and expecting in the end moth
ing better for the peoples than they
had known for centuries. He pictured
the American nation entering the lists
with a new purpose-thc freedom of
mankind. The Old World had caught
the vision, and any treaty OF peace
drawn otherwise than in the new
spirit, would be nothing more, he as
serted, than a modern scrap of
paper and the present peace, un-
less guaranteed by the United States
forces of the civilized world, could
not stand generation.
Bending over the speakers table
his face set in tense lines and, his
right hand clcnched, the President
exclaimed, ANY man who thinks that
America will take part in giving the
world any such rebuff and disappoint-
mcnt as that does not know America.
invite him to test the sentiment of
the nation"
Interrupted by applause, the Pres-
dent halted and then evoked the great
est demonstration OF the afternoon
when he added that he would accent
no swcctcr challenge than the issue
Of the American purpose in the war.
Il have fighting blood in me-" he
said with apparent feeling, and it
is sometimes a delight to let it have
scope, but if it is a challenge on this
occasion, it will be an indulgence"
At another point in his address, the
President said that if the great hope
of the world for league OF nations
was disappointed he would wish "for
my part never to have had America
play any part whatever in this at
tempt to emancipatc the world.
have no more doubt Of the verdict OF
America in this matter than | have
doubt of the blood that Is in me-"
New England gave the President a
rousing welcome home. This city
probably has never seen greater
crowd than gathered at every point
of vantage along tho route from
Commonwealth Pier, to which the
naval cutter Ossipee brought down his
party from the steamer George Wash
ingtOn, through the downtown dis
tricts and around two sides of Boston
Common to the Copley-PlaZa Hotel,
where stop was made FOR luncheon
AT every turn, the President was
checred. Hat in hand, he stood in
his motor car throughout the two
miles Of the parade except in one
block between Washington and Tre-
mont streets where, because aof the
narrow way, spectators were not al
lowed to- congrcgate.
The National Army, the Navy, the
State Guard and the City police in
lines on either side Of the route form
ed a guard OF honor FOR the entire
distance OF the drive SO effective
were the arrangements that not an
unpleasant !ncidcnt occurred.
Opposite the state house, in front
Of which a group Of wounded SOL
dicrs greeted The President, a hand
full Of suffragists claiming to repre-
sent the National Woman's Party,
took their stand for a demonstration
which they had announced Before