The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-06


INl problem than the endeavor
I~J to represent to Americans
Hs%sl accurately European views
I8eyH at the present time on
American political condi-
tions. Probably at no time
since America entered the war has
European attention been to such an
extent concentrated on American do
mestic politics and certainly not even
In the period before we entered the
war were these American political
conditions less understood in Europe.
At bottom, the failure accurately to
appraise the situation in America
arises from the fact that Europe has
accepted Mr.. Wilson without reserva-
ton as an authorized and qualified
spokesman of the whole United States.
The will of America as 1t is under
stood here is what President Wilson
says in the Paris conference.
In English and French politics alike
the defeat of the prime minister on
any larger question of policy means
the fall Of the ministry and change
Of political power. The fact that fol-
lowing President Wilson's defeat in
the November election there was no
change in America has naturally been
accepted here, where a knowledge of
our peculiar institutions Is relatively
slight as proof that only domestic
questions were involved in that elec-
ton and that the president remains
the spokesman for the American peo-
pie with their complete approval in
all foreign matters. When President
Wilson decided to come to Europe, all
the allied nations had in their turn
to decide whether or not the president
should be received as an ambassador
OF all America. They decided to ac-
cept him as such. They have listened
to every word that he has spoken in
matters of policy with exactly that
attention, that consideration, which
flows from an unqualified acceptance
of Mr.. Wilson in such a role.
Put Hope in America.
Now it is essential to recognize
what the position of America in Eur
ope is today. American aid on the
military side is realized everywhere to
have been the decisive factor in win
ming the war. American contribu-
tions to the feeding of millions of
people in Belgium, in Northern France
and in Eastern and Southern Europe,
has meant the difference between star
vation and existence. There are lit
orally millions of people alive in Eu-
rope who owe their existence wholly
to America For the future the little
people of the large countries all turn
their eyes toward America as the one
solid element of hope in world 9TH
erwise sombre and despairing. Ad-
miration, gratitude, hope-all three
emotions flow from American service
in Europe, and President Wilson s
welcome to Europe was a natural and
spontaneous expression on the part
of millions of people of their feelings
toward the country that had saved
them in the past and to whom they
now turn for future deliverance.
To discriminate between Mr.. Wilson
as president of the United States and,
as such, the representative of his
country in Paris, and President Will
son, leader of political party at
home, was thing totally beyond the
capacity of the European peoples. To
them Mr.. Wilson and the United
States were one and the same thing,
and l cannot adequately describe the
degree of apprehension and dismay
which recent political events in the
United States have occasioned. And
this dismay arises primarily out of a
feeling that America as whole may
desert Europe, may leave millions of
people it has temporarily saved to
permanent misery. The attack upon
President Wilson's League of Nations
formula seems to these peoples in
Europe an attack upon all that Am
erica means to them, and this is bound
to be so.
For the American in Europe, the
attitude and sentiment expressed by
the common people of all the allied
nations is thing which at once awak.
ems pride and humility. 1t is not the
flattery Of politicians, it is not even
the praise of public men which inn
presses; it is rather the simple, uu
limited faith of the masses of the
people. on two evenings last week ]
attended dinners. one in honor of Ven
izelos, the great Greek statesman, and
the other presided over by Take Jo
nescu, the man who brought Rumania
into the war on the allied side. Both
made speeches and each, in a manner
which was impressive, explained what
to his own little people the league OF
nations meant, with America as a
force in that league, force for that
justice and that right of which, for
their countries, America was the liv.
ing embodiment.
have said and l repeat that in my
Judgment it is the view of all we'll
informed Americans in Europe that
for America to abandon the task now
would mean to surrender Europe to q
despair which might have almost any
consequences. Germany lost this war
1t Is true, but before Germany laid
down her arms she almost succeeded
in wrecking the nations she attacked
She has left her enemies victorious
but exhausted, almost paralyzed, in
the presence of the stupendous task
of reconstruction. We who came late
who suffered relatively little, were still
fNno<inusd an pane Sixl