Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-01-06
Accepts Citizeushir

welcome.
Accepts Citizenship
Milan, Jan. 4.-(Delayed) Presi-
dent Wilson in speaking today in ac-
ceptance Of the honorary citizenship
Of Milan said: "Mr. Mayor, may /
not cay to you as q representation OF
this great city that it is impossible
for me. to put into words the impress
sions | have received today. The over
whelming welcome, tho spont aneous
welcome which so evidently came from
the heart has been profoundly moving
TO me, sir, and 4 have not failed to
see the Significance Of the welcome
You have yourself given to mo.
III am as keenIy aware I believe,
sir, as anybody can be, that society
rests upon the great working classes
Of the world, that those working class
es in the several countries in the world
have, by their consciousness Of com
munity of spirit, done perhaps more
than any other influence has to estab-
lish world opinion which is not of the
nation, not Of the continent hut is the
opinion, one might say, of mankind.
And l am aware, sir, that those of us
now charged with the very great and
serious responsibility Of concluding
peace must think, act and confer in the
presence of this opinion, for We are
not ohly masters Of the fortunes OF
nations, but are the servants Of man
kind. That il is not our privilege to
follow special interests but it Is our
manifest duty to study only the gen.
eral interests.
"This is solemn thing, sir, and
here in Milan, where / know SO much
of the pulse Of international sympathy
heats, but / am glad to stand up and
say that believe that pulse beats all
so in my own veins and that | am not
thinking of the particulars Of the sst-
tlcment
Receives Memorial
~ am very much touched today,
sir, to receive from the hands oil the
wounded soldiers memorial in favor
of. the league of nations and to be told
by them that this was what they had
fought for. Not so much to win the
war but TO secure something beyond,
some guarantee Of justice some equi-
librium for the world as whole, which
would make it certain that they would
newer have to fight a war like this
again. This is an added obligation up
on US who make pace. We cannot mere
ly sign q treaty Of peace and go home
with clear conscience. We must do
aomething more. We must add 50 far
us we can to the security suffering
men everywhere demand. And when l
speak Of suffering men / think also
OF suffering women. | know that splen-
did as have been the achievements Of
your armies and. tremendous as have
been the sacrifices which they have
made and the great glory they have
achieved, the real hard PRESSURE o.
tho burden of the war came upon the
women at home, whose men had gone
to the front and who were willing to
have them stay there until the Dattla
was fought cut | have heard from your
minister OF food the story Of how Tor
days together there was no bread and
when they knew there was no bread
the spirit Of the people did not lag.
take my hat off to the great people.
in Italy and tell them my admiration
has merged into friendship and affec-
ton. II is in this spirit that | received
your courtesy and thank you from thv
bottom Of my heart for this unprece'
dented reception which | have reeeiv-
ed az the hands of your generous peo.
ple. =