The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-10

never to thrust successfully forward
again. And. yet, there was no con-
fident hope.
Anxious men and women, leading
spirits of France, attended the cele-
bration of the Fourth OF July last year
in Paris out of generous courtesy
with no heart for festivity, little zest
for hope. But they came away with
something new at their hearts. They
have themselves told me so. The
mere sight of our men-of their vigor
of the confidence that showed itself in
every movement of their stalwart fig
ures and every turn of their swinging
march, in their steady. comprehend
ing eyes and easy, discipline, in the
indomitable courage that added spirit
to everything they did-made every
one who saw them that memorable
day realize that something had hap
pened that was much more than a
mere incident in the fighting. some
thing very different from the mere
arrival of fresh troops. great moral
force had flung itself into the strug-
gle The fine physical force of those
spirited men spoke OF something more
than bodily viEor.
Carried Ideals OF Great People.
They carried the great ideals of free
people at their hearts and with that vision
were unconquerable. Their very presence
brought reinsurance their fighting made
victory certain. They were recognized as
crusaders and as their thousands swelled
to millions their strength was seen to
mean salvation. And they were fit men to
carry such hope and make good the assur-
ance 1t forecast. Finer men never went into
battle; and their officers were worthy OF
them. This is not the occasion upon which
, to utter n eulUgy of the armies America
sent to France. but perhaps since | am
Of the pride ! shared with every American
who saw dealt with them there; They
- IL faN
to he represented by the sort Of men
every American would wish to claim as fell
low countrymen and comrades In great
gentle and helpful out of 1t. remembering
the mothers and the sisters, the wives and
the nttl,, children at home. They were free
men under arms. not forgetting their ideals
Of duty in the midst of tasks Of violence.
l am proud to have had the privilege of
being associated with them and Of calling
myself their leader
But speak now Of what they meant
to the men by whose sides they fought and
to the people with whom they mingled
with such simplicity. as friends. who asked
only to be of service. They were for all
the visible embodiment of America. What
they did made America and all that she
stood for living reality in the thoughts
not only of the people of France. but also
Of tens Of millions OF men and women
thruout all the toiing nations of the world
standing everywhere in peril of its freedom
and Of the loss Of everything it held dear.
in deadly fear that its bonds were never
and disappointed.
Duty of L. S. Peace ENJOYS.
And the compulsion for what they stood
was upon us who represented America at
the peace table. 1t was our duty to see to
II that every decision we took part in con-
triDuted, so far 0s we were able tOinfluence
1t. to quiet the fears and realize the hopes
of the peoples who had been living In that
shadow. the nations that had come by
our assistance to their freedom. Il was
our duty to do everything that II was with
IN our power to do 70 make the triumph
Of freedom and Of right n lasting triumph
erywhere live withous fehr.
Old Hurdles to Jump.
Old ENGAGEMENTS of every kind stood I'm
made to one another in the days when
might and right were confused and the
mower Of the victor was without restraint.
Z Engagements which contemplated any dis
Z positions of territory. any extensions of
/ sovereignty that might seem to be TO the
l interest Of those who had the power to
! insist upon them. had been entered into
/ cerned might wish or profit by; and these
/ could not always be honOrably brushed
/ aside. 1t was not easy to graft the new
= order of ideas on the old. and some of the
fruits Of the grating may, / fear, for a
/ time be bitter. But, with very few excep-
/ tons the men who sat with me at the
peace table desired ms sincerely as we
! did to get away from the bad influences
. the ilCgitimate purposes the demOralizing
ambitions, the international cOunselS and
! expedicnts out of which the sinister de-
| signs of Germany had sprung ms ma
tural growth. II had been our privilege
J to formulate the principles which were