The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-25

M MEEhlI circumstance of that visit
unknown, since all re.
ports were lacking to the
III ocean traveller. one has
@l something OF the per-
spective of the traditional visitor from
Mars. The value of this perspective
is plain One does not measure the
result In terms of temporary applause
and of momentary enthusiasm. which
have come and gone. What is left is
the solid result and 1t is a great and
unmistakable result.
In a visit measured by relatively
few hours, President Wilson achieved
two things. He captured the imagf-
nation and he strengthened the ex-
pectations and the aspirations OF mil
lions of people whose thoughts as to
the future were necessarily vague and
Ill defined and he avoided precisely
those dangers which loomed large In
the minds Of the thoughtful, who well
coined him with equal enthusiasm.
but were acutely conscious Of unmis-
taxable temptations and perils and
thus mingled their fears with their
cheers for the president.
This thing must be said first out
Of mere justice. Great as was his
personal triumph the greatest thing
about 1t was not personal. but nation
al l have talked with scores of Eng
lishmen and Americans and it Is the
common testimony of all that Presi-
dent Wilson's visit was permanent
contribution to Anglo-American un-
derstanding in the present, and friend.
ship In the future.
Experiment for London.
My American readers will perhaps
remember that l was one of those who
doubted the wisdom of the presidents
journey, who saw the dangers and did
not perceive compensating benefits;
but do not think that any American
could be in London today. fortnight
after the event, and not feel that the
English phase alone had justified the
experiment, proving the president
right and the doubters and critics to-
tally wrong.
What the President did, measured
by the result, was this: His visit
was an experiment for England, for
London. The official world did every
thing within its large capacity to
make the visit a success. All that
statesmen, diplomats and soldiers, all
that military and civic authorities
could do, was done. But when the
President came. the mass of the peo-
pie took the thing out of the official
world and made the welcome it's own.
What was naturally official and
formal at the outset became popular
and spontaneous after the first mo-
ment and to this welcome, the great
est in the history of London, the Pres
idcnt made adequate response. The
opportunity was tremendous and he
unquestionably rose to 1t.
Apprehension Removed.
What he said, what he did, do not
know, even now, since l was on the
ocean at the time; but the effect of
what he said and what he did Is to be
encountered everywhere. Nor Is 1t
less clear what he did not do. Many
Americans and some Englishmen
feared that on the subject Of the
League of Nations and on the issue of
the Freedom OF the Seas he might
speak and act dogmatically; that. In
stead of prompting understanding. he
might excite disagreement by raising
an issue.
But he did nothing Of the sort. On
the contrary he left behind him the
impression of reasonableness which
dispelled long-standing apprehension.
He impressed official and imperial
Britain not as being dogmatic, but as
being open-minded, moderate, in
search of a basis of agreement; not
insistent upon any unalterable formu-
Ia or immutable doctrine for the
Leagu of Nations.
But even this achievement-and 1t
was no small achievement--was less
considerable than the success of the
president with the masses Of the peo-
pie. To them he embodied an eX-
pectation. He was a visible and tan
gible advance agent Of a just and
peaceful settlement of the greatest of
all world tragedies. His words, his
views, vague as they were necessar-
lily, became definite and specific in
the circumstances.
He found the great public expect.
ant on the subject of the league OF
nations, as the Americana public has
never been. and before he left the
last doubt as to the possibility that
q league of nations would in some
form emerge from Versailles was
abolished.
Gave Form to Friendship.
In America, when l left, men and
women were discussing whether or
not there would be league of ma
tions. In London, when arrived, the
discussion was as to the form which
the inevitable league would take. The
fact that there would be league was
everywhere conceded.
Yet il one were to be wholly exact,
even the question of the league of ma,
tions is minor. What the presidents
visit seems to have accomplished was
tf give a body and form to Anglo
american understanding anad friend
ship, which was always lacking be-
fore. How this was done 1t is diff
cult to explain. Certainly when l was
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