The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-06-04
Memorial Day Address Was a
Defense of the League of
Nations
MERICAN SOLDIERS
IN THE AUDIENCE
High Officials of the French
Government and officers of
he Army Present.

paris May so (By the Associated
press In the American cemetery at
Suresnes, near Paris today, during the
sce1emony Sof paying tribute to the
Sznerican dead on the occasion Of me-
zaorial day, President Wilson made his
8lrst reference to the league OF na-
lions since the covenant Of the society
lsich viii have as its subject the
sprerention of future wars was COM
pIeted
& His words were delivered IN the
presence OF thousands of American
soldiers and many civilians and the
sf1sciai Representatives of the French
gorernnent including Marshal Foch.
Saslfed ofdcialdom who had come to
pay tribute to the American dead also
heard the presidents words
Touching on the reasons which had
ut the American troops across
seas the president said they had come
fo defeat the things for which the
ScentIaI powers stood--'.the arrogant,
sssash domination which they intend
ea TO establish; and they came, more
over to see to it that there never
should be q war like this again
Tt IS forus particularly. for us who
sare civilized" the president continued,
22ssss:to use our proper weapons Of coun-
Ssel and agreement to see to it that
there never is such a war again. The
nation that should now fling out OF
this common concord Of counsel would
BE betraying the human race. So it
SIS our duty TO take and maintain
zthe safeguards which will see to If
that the mothers of America and the
synothers OF France and England and
taIy and Belgium and all other SUI
fering nations should never be called
upon for this sacrifice again. This can
be done. It must be done. And il
ssElll be done.
The things that these men left US
though they did not in their mind
cn1ceive it, is the great instrumen;
which we have just erected in the
league of nations. The league CT na-
Hons is the covenant of govern,nen,
that these men shall not have died il
vain . = I look forward for the time
when every man who now puts
his counsel against the united service
mankind under the league of ma
stions VIII be jnst ashamed of It as
ST he now regretted the Union Of the
States,
The president declared that the Gay
of secret counsels was past, because
the people were in the saddle. The
8 private counsels OF statesmen he add
e would not longer determine the
aestinies OF nations.
Gareheaded, in the glare Of the sun.
president Wilson spoke for more thar
4 half an hour, most. Of the time in a..
& iEnpaSSioned defense of the league O.!
nations and in appeal fer It's support
The cemetery is situated on the
) hillside OF the ancient fortress Of
Meunt Valera. With the old buildings
eat his back the president looked over
the graves; of the American soldiers
which stood in the distance like g
panorama The approaches to the
cemetery and the paths winding
through the burial ground were lined
with soldiers standing at attention.
Z Americans on one side and French or
the other. as the presiden. arrived
The greater part of the khaki cloth
ed listeners to the presidents speech.
were grouped in the shade Of the ole
fort but a crowd Of Other soldiers
and civilians pressed close TO tho
speakers stand. There was unwaver-
ing attention by all to The presidents
sHtterances and when he concluded his
auditors warmly applauded him. Capt
ANDRE Tardieu, French high commits
ssiOn who was III the stand with
S1oresident Wilson listened atteatively
the speech. The president never
faHered IN his diction. Earnestness
pervaded his words. From a nearby
posnt, Mrs. Wilson listened TO hey
husband. She and the president drove
TO the cemetery in different automo-
sbiIes and Mrs. Wilson remained in her
Gear Instead of going to the speakers
STAND.