The Monroe journal., 1919-06-03

Thousands Were Present, Marshal
Foch Among Them - President
Says League of Nations Is Covenant
That These Men shall Not Have
Died i'm Vain "


In the American cemetery at Suses-
mes. near Paris. last Friday. during
the ceremony of paying tribute to the
American dead on the occasion of Me
memorial day. President Wilson made
his first reference 10 the league OF
nations since the covenant of the so
ciety. which will have as its object
the prevention of future wars. was
completed.
His words were delivered in the
presence of thousands of American
soldiers and many civilians and the
officials representatives of the French
government. including Marshal Foch
Numerous distinguished members ol
allied officialdom who had come 10
pay tribute to the American dead also
heard the Presidents words.
The associated pres summed up the
President address as follows:
Touching on the reasons which had
brought the American troops across
seas. the President said they had
come TO defeat the things for which
the central powers stood-"the AFRO
CANT. self domination which they in
tended to establish. and they came
moreover. to see 10 il that there never
shall be a war like this again"
1T is for us. particularly for us
who are civilized" the President con-
/ tinued. Ito use our proper weapons
of counsel and agreement to see to
+ IL that there never is such a war
again. The nation that should now
4 fling out of this common concord of
counsel would betray the human race
/ So II is our duty TO make and main
tain the safeguards which will see
TO ii that the mothers of America and
the mothers of France and England
and Italy and Belgium and all the
other suffering nations should never
be called upon for this sacrifice again.
This can be done. II must be done.
II will be done.
The things that these men left us,
though they did not in their consels
conceive ii. is the great instrument
which we have just erected in the
league of nations The League of ma
tions is the covenant of government
that these men shall not have died in
vain. look forward for the time
when every man who now puts his
counsel against thesunited service OF
mankind under the league of nations
will be just as ashamed of it as if he
now regretted the union of the
states"
The President declared that the
10 Of ha-
cause the people were in the saddle.
The private counsels of statesmen. he
added. would no longer determine the
destinies of nations.
Bareheaded. in the glare of the
sun. President Wilson spoke for
more than half an hour, most Of the
time i'm an impassioned defense OF the
league of nations and an appeal for
its support.
The cemetery is situated on the
hillside of the ancient fortress OF
Mount Valerien. With the old build
ings at his back. the President look
ed over the graves of the American
soldiers and down into the city OF
Paris. which stood in the distance
like a panorama. The approaches 10
the cemetery and the paths winding
their way through the burial ground
were lined with soldiers standing at
attention. American on one side ana
French on the other, as tire Presi-
dent arrived.
The greater part of the khaki cloth
ed listeners to the Presidents speech
were grouped in the shade of the old
fort, but a crowd of other soldiers
and civilians pressed close to the
speakers stand. There was an un-
wavering attention by all to the Pres
dent's utterances, and when ho con-
cluded his auditors warmly applaud
ed him.
Captain Andre Tardieu. French
commissioner. who was in the stand
with President Wilson, listened at
tentively to the speech. The Presi-
dent never faltered in his diciion
Earnestness pervaded his words.
From a nearby point, Mrs, Wilson
listened to her husband. She and The
President drove to the cemetery in
different automobiles and Mrs. viii
son remained in her own car instead
of going to the speakers stand.
Before President Wilson began his
speech a message to the President
from Premier Clemenceau dealing
with the fellowship between the
French and Americans was read.
The letter begins:
Faithful to noble tradition, the
living army renders homage to the
dead army, and all France has asso-
ciated itself with this homage"
After comparing the Americans
who have fallen in France with the
French who fell in America. NJ. Glenn
enceau continues:
France will ever cherish their
memories. With America France will
preserve in peace as an inspiration
and example an undying remem-
brance of their enthusiasm, discip-
line and courage. We see the wreaths
on their tombs, and will take care of
them as piously and gratefully as the
tQmbs of our own soldiers"
With the playing Of "The Star
Spangled Banner" and the Mar
seillaise" by the band and the sound
ing OF taps" by the bugle the official
program ended. but President Wilson
afterwards personally deposited q
d wreath In honor OF the American
dead in the name of the Boy Scouts
OF America.
; During the ceremony a reminde,