Evening star., 1919-09-18

Mr.. Cummins' Greeting.
Gen. Pershing," he said. ''it is my
high privilege to extend to you the
sincere and cordial greeting Of the
Senate of the United States. The
message have the honor to bear is
not a greeting alone, but an earnest
welcome and hearty congratulation
upon your safe and victorious return
to your native Gand. Nor. is it q well
come only, for it Is full of deep ap-
probation of the tremendous task
you have SO wonderfully and WORTH
ly accomplished. You were called
upon to assume the unreasonable re-
sponsibility of commanding the great
est body OF soldiers who ever marched
under the American flag. and you led
this superb. invincible host of our
brightest, best and bravest boys. to
the very summit of military fame
and national glory. While our tears
are flowing and our hearts are break
ing, as we solemnly remember the
tens Of thousands who sailed away
with spirit SO resolute and courage so
perfect and who will return never
more until God calls US all on His
judgment day we receive with un-
bounded joy and undying gratitude
those who have passed unharmed
through the peT1lS OIL the CTuCLGol p" al
in the history of the world.
Wars Greatest Spectacle.
Your entrance into France, follow
ed by an Army which exceeded in
numbers and surpassed in daring the
most enthusiastic prophecies. was the
most impressive spectacle in all the
annals of warfare, for America has
tened to the aid of that stricken but
defiant country in way and to de-
gree never before witnessed and
which has no parallel in the record
of nations of this or any other age.
A little more than a year later with
purpose which never faltered and
a skill which never failed. the United
States had accomplished it's mission;
and, when the day OF armistice dawn
ed, it had won the admiration and
held the confidence. esteem and at
whose people loved justice, revered
liberty and honored manhood.
Upon that day the name and fame
of the American soldier and the ma
ton Of his allegiance had risen to the
cause of humanity. May the Ruler of
the Universe help US to maintain
through al the stormy years to come
the respec, and faith which you and
your gallant army SO magnihcently
stitutions.
Mr.. Gillett's Welcome.
Speaker Gillett followed:
when one of the marsha!s of Louis
XII" he said. came to take fare
well of his sovereign before leaving
for a campaign the friendly monarch
said to him: Go and fight my battles
and / will protect you against your
enemies at home to which the blunt
soldier replied: Sire, l would prefer
that you should Protect me from my
friends. l can protect myself against
distinguished guest under the CON
slant FIRE of receptions and reviews
and compliments to which he is ex-
posed will not feel like praying for
protection against his friends.
"Certainly, he needs none against
his enemies, for in this country he
has none.
Human nature loves to personify
its ideals. 1t loves :. hero and hero
in the commanding gen.
eral the gallantry, the high purpose.
the unconquerablc deterinination OF
our crusading Army. Those boys
those who fell we render fearful hom
age. For those who return manned
and crippled w" owe tender care and
support But for the great Army which
has DdCk Q-SCipllHcu III uOuy
and in character. having bravely Of
fered the suprcmest sacrifice
for them ] have indeed gratitude and
but my strongest emotion
is envy. They will be our heroes ..
Typifes Noble Army.
. And in you. sir. their commanding
we like to see typified the
spirit of that noble Army. the courage.
the self-reliance, the endurance. the
daring which made them
AS their fit representa-
tive, we, representatives of the peo-
ple. welcome you home. But 1 would
not indicate that our welcome to you
is entirely impersonaL OF all the de-
tails of your generalship and your
strategy we are not now qualified to
Judge. In due time that will be ad-
Indicated by history. But we do know
that you were gloriously successful
And we know that you had abundant
opportunity for glaring mistakes.
You were surrounded by pitfalls. Far
from your government in a foreign
land, you had to rely upon yourself. |
Even in what you said you must be ]
prudent: you must not deprecate your |
allies while vindicating your own
There was every chance for
errors. But, sir. il you made them.