The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-05

other nations of the world. And this
great acknowledgement OF all alliances
4 is now to be accomplished by this COW
enant, because one of the covenants is
that no nation shall enter into any re-
lationship with another nation incon-
sistent with the covenants of the
league Of nations. tAppiahse.)
Nations promise not to. have al
IlIances. Nations promise not to make
combinations against each other. Ma
tons agree that there shall be but one
com bination and that is the combina-
ton of all against the wrongdoer. CAP
plause.)
/ And so ] am going back to my task
on the other side with renewed vigor.
had not forgotten what the spirit of
the American people Is, but have been
immensely refreshed by coming In con-
tact with IL again. I did not know
how good home felt until I got here.
(Applause.)
To Feel at Home.
THE only place a man can feel at
home is where nothing has to be ex-
planned to him. Laughter and ap-
/ plause). Nothing has to be explained
TO me In America, least of all the sem
timent of the American people Gap
plause,) I mean, about great funda-
mental things like this There arc
many differences of Judgment as to pol
Eicy-and perfectly legitimate Some
times profound differences of Judgment,
but those are not differences of senti-
ment, those are not differences of pur-
rose, those are not differences of ideals
And the advantage OF not having any
thing explained to you is that YOU
You hear IT. U.aughter.) In certain
rather abandoned part of the frontier
at one time, 1t was said they found a
man who told the truth; he was not
found telling 1t. but he could tell It
when he heard It daughter and APP
plauseO And I think am in that stu
alton with regard to some OF the criti-
cisms have heard. They DO not make
any impression OF me. because I know
there is no medium that will transmit
them, that the sentiment Of the coun-
try Is proof against such narrowness
and such self3shness as that. fAp-
plause). / commend these gentlemen
TO communion with their fellow citi-
zens
What are we to say 70 then. as to
the future? think. my FELLOW citi-
gems. that we can look forward to II
with great confidence, ! have heard
cheering news since I came to this side
OF the water about the progress that In
= being made in Paris towards the dis
cussion and Qualification OF great
many difficult matters and I believe
that settlements will begin to be made
|
those conferences.
But what I helieve--what I know
- as we'll IN, believe, Is this: That the
men engaged In those conferences are
{ gathering heart Az they go, NOT losing
1t; that they are finding community of
purpose and community Of ideal to an
extent that perhaps they did not ex-
pect; and that amidst all the interplay
If nfuence-because II Is Infinitely
complicated-amldst all the interplay
of influence, there Is a forward move
ment which Is running. towards the
right.
Permanent Thing Il Right.
Men have at last perceived that
the only permanent thing in the world
is the right. and that a wrong settle
ment is bound to be temporary set
itlement-bound to be a temporary set
Element for the very best reason OF ALL
THAT it ought to be temporary set
tiement and the spirits of men will
rebel against 1t fapplause) and the
spirits OF men are now in the saddle.
When ] was in Italy little limp
ing group Of wounded Italian soldiers
sought an interview with me. could
not conjecture what II was they were
going to say to me. and with the
greatest simplicity, with a Touching
simplicity. they presented me with
petition in favor OF the league of ma
tions.
/ Their wounded limbs, their i'm
paired vitality, were the only argu-
ment they brought with them. 1t was
a simple request that lend all the
influence that might happen to have
to relieve future generations Of the
sacrifices that they had been obliged
to make
That appeal has remained in my
mind as ! have ridden along the
streets in European capitals and heard
cries of the crowd, cries for the league
of nations from Inns of people who, I
'>>ef1tsrt~ GO say hatf no, particular no
ton OF how it was to be DONE who
were not ready to propose a plan for
a league of nations, hut whose hearts
said that something by some Of COM
bination of all men everywhere must
come out of this.
AS We drove along roads weak old
women would come out and hold flow
ers to us. Why should they hold
flowers up to strangers from across
the Atlantic? Only because they be-
lieveAthat we were the messengers Of
friendship apd of hope, and these
flowers were their. humble offerings
of gratitude that friends from so great
distance should have brought them
So great a hope.
1T Is inconceivabie that we should
disappoint them, and we shall not. The .
oay VIII come when men In America
will look back with swelling hearts
and rising pride that they should have
been privileged to make the sacrifice
which 1t was necessary to make in Or
der to combine their might and their
moral power with the cause of justice |
for men of every kind everywhere.
God give us the strength and Wis !
ion to do it wisely. God give us the
privilege OF knowing that we did it
without counting the cost, and because !
we were true Americans. lovers of lib !
erty and of the right. tGreat APP
plause}