Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-07-10
trsl empires and remedy the wrongs
their armies. had done.

trail empires. and remedy. the wrong.
their armies had done.
''In al, quarters of the world ole
established relationships had beer
disturbed CT broken and affair:
weer at loose ends, needing to be
mended or united again, but coulc
not be made what they were be.
fore. They had to be set right BY
applying some uniform principle od
justice or enlightened cxpediency
And they could not be adjusted by
merely prescribing in treaty
what should be done. New states
were to be set up which could not
hope to live through their first
period of weakness without assured
support by the great nations that
had consented to their creation and
won for them their independence
That there should be a league
of nations to steady the counsels
and maintain the peaceful under
standings Of the world, to make not
treaties alone, but the accepted prin-
ciples of international law as well,
the actual rule of conduct among
the governments of the world, had
been one of the agreements accept
ed from the first as the basis of
peace with the central powers. The
statesmen of all the belligerent
countries were agreed that such a
cague must be created to sustain
the settlements that were to be cf-
fected.
The conference was, after all,
not to be ephemeral. The concert
of nations was to continue. under a
definite covenant which had been
agreed upon and which all were
convinced was workable. They could
90 forward, with confidence to make
arrangements, intended to be perma-
aent and almost practical.
A cry had gone out from every
h~me in every stricken land from
which sons and brothers and
fathers had gone forth to the great
sanrifce that such a sacrifie should
never again be exactcd. 1t was
manifest why it had been exacted.
1t had been exacted because one
ration desired dominion and other
nations had known no means of
defense except armaments and al
Iiances.
The league of nations was not
an instrument to adjust and
remedy old wrongs under new
treaty of peace; it was the only
hope for mankind.
It was seen as the main object Of
the peace, as the only thing that
could complete it or make it worth
while. They saw it as the hope Of
the world, and /: that hope they did
no. dare to disappoint. Shall we
or any other free people hesitate
tc accept this great duty? Dare
We reject it and break the heart
cf the world?
ait was universally recognized
ti,at America had entered the war to
promote no private or peculiar M
tcrest of her own, but only as the
champion of rights which she was
glad to share with free men and
lovers If justice everywhere. They
kncw that there is. no ground for
fear in receiving US as their men
tors and guides. Our ISOLATION was
ended twenty years ago; and now
fear of US is ended also.
Our counsel and association IS
sought after and desired. There
can be no question of our ceaslng to
lie world power. The only qucs-
tion is whether we can refuse the
moral leadership that is offered us,
whittier We shall accept or reject
the confidence of the world.
THE stage is set, the destiny dis
closed. 1t has come about by no
hand of God who led US into this
way. We cannot turn back We
can only go forward, with lifted
eyes mad fresiened spirit, to fol-
low the vision. 1t was OF this
that we dreamed at our birth.
America shall in truth show the way
The light sreams upon the path
ahead, and nowhere else.