The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-10-07
AMERICAS PLEDGE
Sacred D.-WILSON
PRESIDENT SAYS OUR PROMISE
TO TRY TO PREVENT FUTURE
WARS SHOULD BE KEPT.
ONLY HOPE IS IN WORLD LEAGUE
Says Germany Would Not Have Dared
to Strike II Nations Had Been
Banded Against Aggression.
(By Mt. Clemens News Bureau.)

81. Louis-Dispiaying a high con- !
hdence that his fellow citizens in the |
great majority agree with him In his
desire to end war forever, and that
the peace treaty with it's League OF
Nations inclusion is ratified by the
senate, President Wilson is making a
successful way across the country on
the long journey he has undertaken
for the purpose of laying before the
plain people report of his work in
Paris and explaining to them just
what the League means.
Thus far in his travels he has every
where met with warm greetings. both
In the great halls where he has
spoken formally and in the little cross
road hamletS where his train has
halted at times and he has exchanged
words with the villagers who pressed
forward to greet him. He feels, and
does not hesitate to say so when
chatting with his travelling compan.
ions, that the American people want
no more Of war and want to become
part OF the League SO that there may
be no more war. He struck his key
note when he said in his first address,
In Columbus, Ohio:
This treaty was not intended mere
~ to end this single war. 1t is meant
as notice to every government who
In the future will attempt this thing
lwhat Germany attempted) that man
kind will unite to intlict the same pun.
fshment. There is no national
triumph to be recorded in this treaty
There is no glory sought for any par
ucular nation. The thought Of the
statesmen COLLECTED around that table
was or their people, of the sufferings
they had gone through, of the losses
they had incurred, OF that great throb-
bing heart which was so depressed,
so forlorn, so sad in every memory Il
had OF the five tTagical years that
have gone by. Let US never forget
those years, my fellow countrymen;
let US never forget the purpose, high
and disinterested, with which America
lent its strength, not for its own glory
but for the defense of mankind.
LAS l said, this treaty was not
meant merely to end this war. 1t is
intended to prevent any similar war.
l wonder If some OF the opponents Of
the League of Nations have forgotten
the promises we made our people be-
fore we went TO that peace table? We
had taken by process OF law the
flower OF our youth from every coun-
tryside, from every household, and we
told those mothers and fathers and
sisters and wives and sweethearts
that we were taking those men to
fight war which would end business
of that sort and if we do lot end it,
If we do not do the best that human
concert OF action can do % end 1t, we
are OF all men the most unfaithful-
the most unfaithful to the loving
hearts who suffered in this war, the
most unfaithful TO those households
bowed in grief and yet lifted with the
feeling that the lad laid down his life
for great thing, and, among other
things, in order that other lads might
never have to do the same thing.
THAT is what the League OF Ma
tions is for-to end this war Justly
and then not merely to serve notice
on governments which could contem-
plate that they will do so at their peril,
hut also concerning the combination
of power which will prove to them
that they will do 1t at their peril. 1t is
idle to say the worlds will combine
against you; but it is persuasive to
say the world is combined against
you, The League or Nations
is the only thing that can prevent the
recurrence of this dreadful catastrophe
and redeem our promises"
A League of Nations would have
prevented the late conflict, the presi-
dent asserted. explaining.
II did not meet single public man
who did not admit these things; that
Germany would not have gone into
this war If she thought Great Britain
was going into it, and she most GER
tainly would never have gone into ii
had she dreamed America was going
into It, And they all admit that
notice beforehand that the greatest
powers OF the world would combine TO
prevent this sort OF thing would pre-
vent 1t absolutely
Applause and cheers greeted /!
each declaration of the presi.
dent that wars might be avoid |!
ed in the future by operations |
OF the League. He pointed out other |
important features OF the Peace |
Treaty, how it was the redemption OF |
weak nations, giving them freedom |
which otherwise they never could |
have won: how it says These people |
have a right to live their own lives |
under governments which they them |
selves choose. and how that is the /
American Principle and | was glad TO
fight for it,, and that was the very
heart Of the Treaty, he said.
He drew attention to the section OF /
the Treaty which is Magma Charta !