Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-01-30
PRESIDENT MAKES GREAT SPEECH
FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS" |! Ian

Wy" "oS ltlll ttll Tie WOfiu il;ltl
now become conscious that there was
a single of justice and of libert,
for men of every kind and place.
Must Function Constantly.
Therefore. the United States should
1eel that its part in this war had been
played in vain if there ensued upon
IL abOrtlve European settlements. 1t
would feel that it could not take part
IN guaranteeing those European settle
mentS unless that guarantee involved
the continuous Superintendence of the
peace of the world by the associated
nations of the world.
Therefore it seems to me that we
must concern Il best Judgment in
order to make this league of nations \
vital thing, a thing sometimes called
into life to meet an eNigency-but
always functioniug in watchful attend-
ance upon the interests of the nations
and that its continuity should be a
vital continuity; that it's functions are
continuing functions; that they do NOT
permit intermisSion of it's watchfulnesS
and of it's labor; that it should be The
eye of the nations to keep watch upon
the common intereSts-an eye tina, ,ii,,
''h LII y jldl WAS CNtiN-
where watchful and attentive.
The Hope of All Peoples.
And if we do o make it vital. what
shall we do? We shall diSappoinr !h'
expectations of the peoples. This i,
what the thought centerS upon.
had the very delightful experience
OF visiting several nations since I c;tlne
to this side of the water. and every
time the voice of the body of the peo-
pie reached me. through any represent
tative, at the front of the plea stood
the hope of the league of nations.
Gentlemen. the select classes of
mankind are now in the hands of the
plain people of the whole wur,,st.
Satisfy them. and YOU have juStiti~<:
their confidence not only. but have
established peace. Fail to satisfy
them. and no arrangements that ynu
can make will either set up or steady
the peace of the world.
You can imagine. / dare say. the
sentiments and the purpose With which
the representatives of the United
States support this great project for Il
league of nations. We regard it as the
keynote of the whole. which expressed
or purpose and ideals in this war and
which the associated nations have ac-
crlr"d as the basis of Il settlement.
American Expectations High.
If we return to the United States
without having made every effort in
our power to realize this program. we
should return to meet the merired
scorn of our fellow citizens. For they
are. a body that constitute !, great
democracy. They expect their leaders
to speak: their representatives to be
their servants.
We have no choice but to obey their
mandate. But il is With the greatest
enthusiasm and pleasure that We :r-
cept thai mandate. And because this
is the keynote Of the whole fabric, we
have pledged II every purpose to it,
as WE have to every item of the fabric.
We would not dare ;bate Il single :l.?n
"f the program which constitutes our
Instructions: we would not dare 10
compromise upon any matter as Tie
champion of this lhing-thiS peace Of
the world. this attitude of Justice. thi:>
principle thai VIC are the masters Oi nu
peoples. hu1 are here to see that every
people in the world shall choose its
own masters and govern its own deS-
TIMES. not as we wish. but as they
wish.
Sweep Away Wars Foundations.
We are here to see. i'm short. that
the very foundations of this wal. are
swept away. Those foundations We're
the private choice of IL small coterie of
civil rulers and military StaffS. Thns,
foundations were the aggression of
great powers upon the small. Those
foundations were the holding together
of empires Of unwilling subjects by the
dureSS Of arms. Those foundations
were the power of small bodies of men
to WELD their will and use mankind ms
p;Nn> in a game. And nothing less
than the emancipation of the world
from these things will accomplish
peace.
] hope. Mr.. Chairman. when ii. is
known. as ] feel confident it will be
known. that We have adopted The
principle Of tho league Of nations. and
mean to work out that principle in
effective action. we shall by that single
Thing have lifted .: great part of the
load of anxiety from the hearts of mel
everywhere.
We stand in Il peculiar cause. AS
90 about the streets here ! see every.
where the American uniform. Those
men came as crusaders. not merely tI
win y war. hut to win Il cause. And
| am responsible t" them. for it falls
to me to formuIa1" the purpose fol
which ] asked tlrvm to fight. and l.. like
them. must be a crusader for these
things. whatever ii costs. and what
ever it may be necessary TO do in honor
TO accept the object for which they
fought.
have been glad to find from day to
day that there is no question Of ON
standing alone in this matter. for there
are champions in this cause upon every
hand. ! am merely avowing this in
order that YOU may understand why
perhaps. it fell to us, who are dis
engaged from the politics Of this. greal
continent and OfIthe Orient. to SUCCESS
that this was the Keystone of the arch
and why it occurred to the generou,
mind of your president +" call upon III.
10 open this debate.