Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-07-18
Inc PRESIDENT Gives Account Of His Stewardship Before
crowded Senate; Received With Tumultuous Applause
And Heard With Rapt Attention.
GREATER PART OF ADDRESS DEVOTED TO LEAGUE Of NATIONS
"uoomcness Rather Than Verbosy Marked the Composition
Of the Address Which Will Go Down Into History 90 ono
OF the Most Remarkable Documents of Any Age

autocratic authority Of its governors
J ana In the settlement of the peace
we have sought no special PREPARATION
for ourselves, but only the restoration
OF right and the assurance of libert,
everywhere that the effects Of the
settlement were to be felt. We en-
tered the war as disinterested cham
pions OF right and we interested our
selves in the terms OF the peace in
no other capacity.
The hopes OF the nations allied
against the central powers were at q
very low ebb when our soldiers began
TO pour across the sea.
There was everywhere amongst
them. except in their stoutest spirits,
sombre foreboding Of disaster. The
war ended in November, eight months
ago, but you have only to recall what
was feared In midsummer last four
shcrt months before the armistice, to
realize what II was that our timely
aid accomplished alike for their
morale and their physical safety. The
FIRST acknowledgement action at
Chateau ThieiTy. had already taken
place. Our redoubtable soldiers and
marines had already closed the gap
the enemy had succeeded in opening
for their advance upon Paris-had al.
ready turned the tide Of battle back
towards the frontiers Of France and
begun the rout that was to save Eu.
rope and the world Thereafter the
Germans were to be always forced
back, were never to thrust success.
fully forward again. And yet, there
was no confident hope Anxious men
and women, leading spirits OF France.
attended the celebration of the Fourth
OF July last year In Paris out OF gen.
erous courtesy-with no heart for
festivity, little zest for hope. But they
came away with something new at
their hearts; they have themselves
told us so. The mere sight OF uor
men-of their vigor, Of the confidence
that showed itself in every movement
Of their stalwart figures and every turn
OF their swinging march, In their
steady comprehending eyes and easy
discipline, in the indomitable air that
added spirit to everything they did
made every one WHO saw them that
remarkable day ralize that something
had happened that was much more
than mere incident in the fighting,
something very different from the
mere arrival Of fresh troops. A great
moral force had flung itself into the
struggle. The fine physical force Of
these spirited men spoke OF some.
thing more than bodily vigor. They
carried the great ideals of a free PEG.
pie at their hearts and with that
vision were u2conquerable. Their
very presence brought reinsurance;
their fighting made victory certain.
They were recognized as crusaders
and as their thousands swelled to |
millions their strength was seen to
mean salvation. And they were fit men !
to carry such hone and make good |
the assurance 1t forecast. |
Finer men never went into battle;
and their officers were worthy OF
them. This is not the occasion upon
which to utter an eulogy OF the armies
America sent to France, but perhaps,
since am speaking Of their mission,
| may sneak also Of the pride shared
with every American who saw or
dealt with them there. They were the
sort OF men America would wish to
claim as fellow countrymen and COM
rades in great cause. They were
terrible In battle. and gentle and help
iul out Of II, remembering the mothers
and the sisters. the wives and the lit !
lie children at home. They we're free
men under arms. not forgetting their
deals Of duty in the midst of tasks
u violence. | am proud to have had
he privilege Of being associated with
men and of calling myself their
eader.
But I speak now Of what they
meant to the men by whose sides they
ought and to The people with whom
hey mingled with such utter simple
ty. as friends who asked only to be
Il service. They were for all the
'isible embodiment of America. What
hey did made America and all that
he stood for a living reality in the
thoughts not only of the people OF
rance, but also Of tens Of millions
I men and women throughout all the
olling nations of a world standing
verywhere in peril OF Its freedom and
I the loss OF everything 1t held dear,
4 deadly fear that its bonds were
ever to be loosed. its hopes forever
D be Knocked and disappointed.
And the coInpulsion of what they
TODD for was upon US who represent.
d America at the peace table. 1t
as our duty to see to It that every
ecision we took part in contributed,
!, far as we were able to influence
to quiet the fears and realize the ,
opes Of the peoples who had been |