The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-01-20

"Mr. President of the Senate, Mr.
President of the Republic-You have
made me feel your WELCOME in words
as generous as they were delightful
and I feel that You have graciously
called me your friend. May l not In
turn call this company company OF
my friends, for everything you have
said, sir has been corroborated in
every circumstance of our visit to
this country. Everywhere we have
been welcomed; not only welcomed In
the spirit and with the same thought
until it has seemed as If the spirits
of the two countries mingled to-
gether in an unusual and beautiful
accord.
I'VE know the long period of peril
through which France has gone
France thought us remote in COM
prehension and sympathy, and dare
say there were times when we did
not comprehend as you comprehended
the danger in the presence of which
the world stood. There was no time
when we did not know how near ii
was, and l fully understand sir, that
throughout these trying years when
mankind has waited for the catastro-
phe the anxiety of France must have
of all. For she did stand at the from
tier of freedom. She had carved out
her. own fortunes through long pc
riod of eager struggle. She had done
great things in building up a great,
new France. And just across the bor-
der. separated from her only by a
few fortifications and a little country
whose neutrality. it has turned out,
the enemy did not respect, lay the
shadow cast by the cloud which en-
veloped Germany, the cloud of in
trigue, the cloud of dark purpose, the
cloud of sinister design-this shadow
lay at the very borders OF France.
Not Only Peril But Challenge.
And yet it is fine to remember
here that for France this was not q
peril but challenge. France did not
tremble. France quietly and in her
own way prepared her sons for the
struggle that was coming. She never
took the initiative nor did a single
thing that was aggressive. She had
prepared herself for defense, not in
order to impose her will upon other
people. She had prepared herself
that no other people might impose
its will upon her.
"As ! stand with you and as mix
with the delightful people of this
country, see this in their thoughts
America always was our friend. Now
she understands. Now she compre-
hends and now she has com to
bring US this message, that under
standing, she will always be ready to
help.
May Continue Danger.
"And, while as you say sir, this
danger may prove to be a continuing
danger, while it is true that France
will always be nearest this threat:
il we cannot turn it from a threat
into a promise, there are many ele-
ments that ought to reassure France.
There is a new awakening and an
awakened world. 1t is not ahead of
us, but around us. 1t knows that
its dearest interests are involved in
its standing together for a common
purpose. 1t knows that the peril of
France, If it continues, will be the
peril of the world. 1t knows that not
only France must organize against
this peril, but that the world must
organize against it.
so / see in these welcomes not
only hospitality, not only kindness,
not only hopes, but a clearly defined
purpose that men, understanding
one another must now support
one another and that all the sons Of
freedom are under common oath
to see that freedom never suffers
this danger again.
Welcome Impressive.
But to my mind, it is the i'm
pressive element of this welcome.
know how uch of it, sir. and l know
know how much of it, sir and know
self. l know that | have the very
distinguished honor to represent a
nation who is here in this business
and / am proud to speak for the peo-
pie whom l represent.
II know that you honor me in rep
resentative capacity and that my words
have value only in the United states. |
delight in this welcome. therefore. as If
/ had brought the people of the United
States with me. and they could see in
your faces what ] see in the tokens Of
welcome and affection.
Earned World Brotherhood.
The sum of the whole matter is that
France has earned and has won the
brotherhood Of the world She has stood
as the chief post of danger. and the
thoughts of mankind and her brothers
everywhere-her brothers in freedom
turn to her and center upon her.
''If this is true. as / believe il TO be,
France is fortunate to have suffered. She
is fortunate to have proved her mettle
as one of the champions OF liberty and
she has tied to herself once and for
all those who love freedom and truly
believe in the progress and rights Of
man"