South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-26
COMPLETE ADDRESS
OF PRIEST WILSON
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNE)


the plain people OF the whole world.
Satisfy them, and you have justified
their confidence not only, but have
esta blished peace. Fail 10 satisfy
them, and no arrangement that you
can make will either set up or steady
the peace of the world.
You can imagine. / daresay, the
sentiments and the purpose with
which the representatives OF the
United States support this great pro-
jet for a league of nations. We re-
gard IL as the keynote of the whole.
which expressed our purposes and
ideals in this war and which the
associated nations have accepted as
the basis OF a settlement.
Expect Leaders To Speak.
IF we return TO the United States
without having made every effort in
our power TO realize this program,
We should return TO meet the merit
ed scorn of our fellow citizens. For
they are a body that constitutes a
great democracy. They expect their
leaders TO speak; their representa-
tives to be their servants.
we have no choice but to obey
their mandate But IL is with the
greatest enthusiasm and pleasure
that we accept that mandate. And
because this is the keynote Of the
whole fabric we have pledged our
every purpose to II. as we have TO
every item OF the fabric. We would
not dare abate single item OF the
program which constitutes our in
structions; we would not dare TO
compromise upon any matter as the
champion of this thing-this peace
of the world, this attitude or justice
this principle that we are the mas
tiers OF no peoples, but are here TO
see that every people in the world
shall choose its own masters and
govern it's own destinies. not as we
wish, but as they wish.
I'VE are here to see, in short that
the very foundations of this war are
swept away. Those foundations
were the private choice of a small
coterie of civil rulers and military
stats. Those foundations were the
aggression of great powers upon the
small. Those foundations were the
holding together of empires unwln-
ing subjects by the duress OF arms.
Those foundations were the power or
small bodies of men TO WELD their
will and use mankind as pawns in
a game.
F.manciDate the World
"And nothing less than the eman-
cipation OF the world from these
things will accomplish peace.
You can see that the represen-
tatives of the United States are
therefore. never put to the embar-
rassment of choosing a way of eN-
pediency because they have had
laid down before them the unalter-
able lines of principles. And thank
God. these lines have been accepted
as the line of settlements by all the
high minded men who have had to
do with the beginning Of this great
business.
81 hope, Mr.. Chairman when II is
known. as feel confident it will be
known, that we have adopted the
principle of the league of nations
and mean 10 work out that principle
in effective action, we shall by that
single thing have lifted a great part
of the load OF anxiety from the
hearts of men everywhere.
we stand in a peculiar cause. As
7 go about the streets here 1 see
everywhere the American uniform.
Those men come into the war after
we had uttered our purpose. They
came as crusaders, not merely to
win a war, but TO win cause. And
1 am responsible 10 them, for 1t falls
10 me 20 formulate the purpose Tor
which I asked them to tight, and L
like them, must be a crusader for
these things. whatever it costs and
whatever il may be necessary TO do
in honor, 70 accomplish the object
for which they fought
"I have been glad TO find from
day TO day that there is no ques-
ton of our standing alone in this
matter. for there are champions of
this cause upon every hand. 1 am
merely avowing this in order that
you may understand why. perhaps,
Il fell TO us. who are disengaged
from the politics Of this great con-
tinent and of the orient, TO suggest
that this was the key stone of the
arch. and why it occurred TO the
generous mind of our president TO
call upon me TO open this debate. 1t
is not because we alone represent
this idea, but because it is our priv
ilege TO associate ourselves with you
in representing it.
II Nave only tried lin what I have
said. TO give you the fountains of
the enthusiasm which is within US
for this thing, for those fountains
spring. il seems TO me. from all the
ancient wrongs and sympathies of
mankind. and the very pulse of the
world seems to beat to the fullest
in this enterprise"