The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-10-31

follower of Christ was a peerless pa
triot, and knew his rights, and know
ing, dared maintain them. He knew
justice was mighty and would pre-
vail, and would have gladly given his
life, realizing the sacrifice he would
make would hasten the victory of the
right. Of such stuff are heroes made.
The Germans did not dare extinguish
the noble spirit, for they knew it would
be stronger in death than in life.
Defense Saved Paris
There were several crucial moments
in the world war, but the invasion of
Belgium and the resistance offered by
that noble country to the well-equip-
ped legions of Germany was the first
crucial moment in the great struggle
of force against humanity. 1t saved
Paris and all the channel ports in
lFrance, and prevented the invasion of
England. 1t held the German armies
! in check until the Russian hosts could
invade East Prussia, and thereby di-
vided the German army, which would
have otherwise been overpowering.
That also was crucial moment in the
struggle, which the Allies and their
co-belligerent, America, should cher
ish with grateful recollection.
Another crisis in the struggle was
the Russian Revolution of March,
1917, precipitated, as it was, by the
suspicion of the Russian people that
the Imperial Government was nego-
tiating separate peace with the Cen
trail Empires. The Provisional Gov
eminent of Lyoff, KerenSky and Me-
liuoff, which administered the affairs
of mighty Russia for eight months,
thereby compelling the German and
Austrian armies to remain on the
Eastern front until America could
come to the rescue of the Western
front, as she did with her gallant ar
my. 1t is true the Provisional Gov
eminent was overturned through the
efforts of Germany, who formed a ne
farious alliance with Lenine and Trotz-
ky, but during the eight months of the
regime of the Provisional Government,
America made effective and unprece-
dented preparations which astounded
not only the world, but America it.
self. Don't you think Russia thus per-
formed too important part in this
worldwide struggle for liberty to be
thus neglected and left to the tender
mercies of Bolsheviki Adventures who
are attempting to overturn organized
government everywhere.
Allies Owe Russia Debt
zHave you ever thought, my friends,
that Russia has been neglected by the
Allies? The part performed by Rus
STA should be cherished with CRATE
full recollection. (Applause.) Not on
ly did Russia at a critical time invade
East Prussia and thus prevent the de-
molition of the British and French
armies on the western front, but the
provisional Government, by keeping
Russia in the war divided the attention
that "invincible" army, thought to be
inyincible by Germany, at least until
America could come to the aid of the
Allies.
Fortunate is he who takes advan-
tage of the opportunity that is Of
fered him. There is a tide in the af-
fairs of men which leads to fortune.
There is a tide in the affairs of ma
lions which likewise leads to supre-
macy. America entered this war at
a crucial moment and saved civiliza-
ton. (Applause.) A year has al
most elapsed since the armistice was
signed, but the work of reconstruction
has hardly begun. His Eminence,
whom / heard talk at luncheon given
in his honor by the Chamber of Com
merce in this city, when he appealed
to his hearers and to the American
people to assist Belgium, which has
suffered beyond human endurance, al
most, through sense of honor. She
has suffered when she could have pro-
tested against this invasion of her
rights, but our distinguished guest of
this evening said the Belgians would
not be performing their duty if they
did nto resist with their lives this
heartless invasion Of their borders. A
moral conviction is an immense pow
er, an overwhelming power in mod
ern society.
His Eminence, our guest of this
evening, was the guide and the cham
pion Of the moral conviction of 1914
Woe be to him who gets in the road
of moral convictin. Applause. }
A moral conviction has the force OF
an avalanche in modern society, es,
pecially when it is guided and cham
pioned by a man who has the respect
of all people and of all countries and
of all sects, as our distinguished Wis
itor of this evening has. l delight to
join you in doing honor to man who
sacrificed himself and jeopardized his
life in justification of the right be-
cause truth is mighty and will prevail
and justice will surmount all obsta-
cles that cucumber its pathway, while
error, wounded, cries in pain and dies
amid her worshipers.
think, therefore, you will join me
in wishing success and long life and
abundant happiness to our distin-
al. L ~