Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-04
FREE MEN BR: :THREN,
WILSON TELLS ROME
Germany illustrates Impossibility
Of Conquering World by Force,
He Says in Speech.
~ sssociase,i presa 70 Every Ev~niny


Rome. Jan 3.-Thc ceremony by
which President Wilson became n citizen
OF Rome took ulace. in the historic capital
designed by Michael Angelo Assisting
in the services we're King Nictor En-
rnauel and Queen Elena. members Of the
italian cabinet, nembers Of the diplO-
rnatic corps, including Ambassador and
Mrs Thomas Nelson Page, and nunic-
ipal and military authorities
Mr. and Mrs Wilson, accompanied
by he King and Queen, drove 70 the
capital after The dinner at the Quirinal
Following the ceremony Mr. Wilson
said
You have done me 2 very great honor,
Perhaps you can imagine what feeling
il Il Tor 4 citizen of one ~ the newest 81
tho great nations 70 tie made q citizen
Of this ancient city. II il . distinction
which | am sure vou are conferring upon
me - 4 representative of the great peo-
pie FOR whom | speak. One who has been
4 student 0f history cannot arcepl an
honor Of the sort without having his
memory run hack 70 the extraordinary
series of events which have centered IN
tins place.
"But ~ | have thought today, ] have
been impressed by the contrast between
the temporary and permanent things.
MANY political changes have centered
about Rome from the time when from
little city she grew 10 be mistress Of
great Empire. Change after change has
swept away many things, altering the very
form Of her affairs, but the thing that has
remained permanent has been the spirit
Of Rome and the Italian people That
spirit seems to have caught with each
age the characteristic purpose oi the age.
This Imperial people now gladly rep
presents the freedom o. nations. This
people which at one time seemed TO
conceive the purpose Of governing the
world now takes part u the liheraI enter
prise OF Offering the world is own govern
menl Can there be !. finer or more
Impressive illustration OF the Indcs-
tructible human spirit and of The IN
conquerarle spirit of liberty?
Il have been rejecting in these recent
days about . colossal blunder which has
been made the blunder OF force by the
central empires. II Germany had waited
a single generation. she would have had
a commercial ..plre Of world >Le
no Al ing TO conquercr Y sail
enterprise " c1mn erdal suc-
eess. he must needs stteIpt %
conquer the world by arms,
and the world will always acclaim the
TACT that Il Is impossible 70 conquer by
arms, that the only thing that conquers
1t Is the sort OF service which can be
rendered IN trade. IN intercourse, IN
friendship, and that there Is no con-
quering power which can suppress the
freedom of the human spirit.
Il have reJolccd personally IN the
partnership of the Italian and American
people, because II IS 8 new partnership
III an old enterprise, an enterprise pre-
destined TO succeed wherever il Is under
taken-the enterprise which has always
borne that handsome name which we
call Liberty, Men have pursued It
sometimes like 4 mirage that SCENE 10
elude them that seemed 70 run before
them rs they advanced. but never have
they tagged ii their purpose to achieve
il. and | believe | am not. deceived N
supposiDg that IN this age of ours they
are nearer TO II than thev ever were
before The hight that sh0ne upon the
summit now seems 70 shine almost nj
our feet, and il We lost it. it will be only
because We have lost faith 4 breath II
hope and uf confidence has come into re
hearts ana minds OF men
Il would not have felt at liberty to
come away from America if | had not
felt that the time had arrived when.
forgetting local interests and local ties
and local purpose. men should unite in
his great enterprise thar VIII ever tie
tree men together IS 4 body Of brethren
and 4 body Of free spirits
Il am honored. sir, 20 be taken into
this ancient comradeship of the citizen
ship Of Rome