The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-04
ACCORDED
BIG OVATION BY
PARIS SOCIALISTS
CONTINUED From First Page.l

hundred years and more went by ana
the spindles were slowly weaving the
web Of history. We did not seem TO
be complete, the whole Of the design
Now look what has happened! In
that far off day when France came TO
the Assistance of America, America was
fighting Great Britain and now she IS
linked as closely to Great Britain as
she is to France. We see now how
tory are coming together. The nations
which once stood in battle array against
one another are now shoulder to shoul-
der. fighting a common enemy.
1T was a long time before we saw
that and in the last four years some
thing has happened that Is unprecedent-
ed IN the history Of mankind, 1t Is
nothing less than this-that bodies OF
men on both sides Of the sea and in
all parts Of the world have come to
realize their comradeship in freedom.
France, In the meantime, as we have
so often said, stood at the frontier OF
freedom. Her lines lay along the very
lines that divided the home Of free
dom from the home Of military despot-
ism. Here was the immediate peril.
the most pressing necessity of prepara-
tion, and she had constantly to ask her
self this question, II the blow falls, who
viii come to our assistance"
World Aids Her.
And the question was answered in
the most unexpected way. Her allies
came to her assistance but many more
than her allies. The free people of the
world came to her assistance.
And in this way America paid her
debt Of gratitude to France by send
France. She did more. She assisted in
drawing the forces of the world together
In order that France might never again
feel her isolation in order that France
might never feel that hers was a lonely
peril and would never again have to ask
the, question who would come to her
assistance.
For the alternative is a terrible alter
native for France. l do not need to
point out to you that east of you in
Europe the future is fun Of questions.
Beyond the Rhine, across Germany,
across Poland. across Russia, across
Asia, there are questions unanswered,
and they. may be for the present un-
answerable.
France still stands at the frontier.
France still stands in the presence Of
those threatening and unanswered ques-
Notwithstanding because unanswered.
Stands waiting for the solution OF mat
ties which touch her directly and init
mately and constantly and II She must
stand alone, what must she do? She
must put upon her people a constant
burden Of taxation. She must undergo
sacrifice that may become intolerable.
And not only she, but the other ma
tons Of the world must do the like.
They must be ready for any terrible in
cident Of Injustice. The thing is not
inconceivable.
%, visited the other day a portion
Of the devastated region Of France. I
saw the noble city Of Rheims in ruins
and ! could not help saying to myself:
Here is where the blow fell because
the rulers OF the world did not sooner
see how to prevent It,"
People Forgotten.
THE rulers Of the world have been
thinking Of the relations Of govern
ments and forgetting the relations OF
peoples. They have been thinking OF
the maneuvers Of international deal
ings, when what they ought to have
been thinking OF was the fortunes OF
men and women and the safety Of home
and the care they should take that their
people should be happy because they
were safe.
They know that the only way to dc
this Is to make 1t certain that the same
thing will not always happen that has
happened this time, that there never
shall be any doubt or waiting or sur
misc. but that whenever France Of
any free people Is threatened the whole
world will be ready to vindieate its lib.
at is for that reason, I take it, thai
find such a warm and intelligent n
thusiasm in France for the society o.
natlons-France with her prophetic
vision.
1T seems to be not only of France
but the need Of mankind. And France
sees the sacrifices which are necessary
for the establishment of the society OF
the constant dread Of another complete
falling on the fair cities and areas Of
France.
"There was a no more beautiful coun.
try. There was a no more prosperous
country. There was a no more free
, mired France and none Of the worlC
. grudged France her greatness and he
! prosperity. And It has .profited us, ter
J rible as the cost has been, to witness
physical eye What has happened be
, cause injustice was wrought.
1.-THE president OF the chamber ha
: pictured as l cannot picture, the ap
palling sufferings, the terrible TRACED
could not be repeated. As the patter
= Of history has disclosed itself, 1t ha
disclosed the hearts Of men drawing to
: ward one another, ~Comradeships hav
b become vivid, The purpose Of associa
= ton has become evident.
;, Brotherhood Near.
n 1.-THE nations of the world are abou
: to consummate a brotherhood which wi
make 1t unnecessary In the future I
y maintain those crushing armament
y which make the peoples suffer alno.
: as much In peace as they suffered |
: war.
II when the soldiers Of America crosse
v the ocean they did not bring with thel
n merely their arms. They brought wit
n them a very vivid conception of Franc
n They landed Upon the soil Of Franc
: With quickened pulses. They knew thi
IL they had come to do a thing which ii
a heart Of America had long wished
do, When Gen, Pershing stood at Il
tomb Of Lafayette and said 'Lafayett
n Lafayette, here is the completion
the great story whose first chapter yc
assisted to write. The world has see
the great plot worked out and now Il
people of France may rest assured TIL
their prosperity Is secure because the
homes are secure; and men ever,