Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-29

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THE PRESIDENTS BIRTHDAY.

IA INELoIDIlNI - Bin
President Wilson yesterday passed
the sixty-third milestone in his Won
derful career. His birthday found
him convalescent after a serious i'll
ness brought on by the severe strain
which the President has been under in
his heroic struggle to accomplish
something really worth while for man
kind out Of the great wal through
which we have just passed.
No President since Lincoln has been
assailed as Woodrow Wilson has been,
vet. like Lincoln, he has kept his face
turned steadfastly toward that which
he has desired to accomplish. With
a patience that, at times, has been al
most exasperating, but with a firm de-
termination, strengthened by his un-
feigned belief in the cause he advo-
Gates, he has thrown his whole life
into the work taxing himself far be-
yond his strength and his capacity for
endurance In his enthusiasm to make
the most of this rare opportunity to
advance civilization.
To Presiden Wilson alone must be
given the credit for seeing far beyond
the mere material gains In this great
war n visualizing the end of all wars
and the reign of peace on earth and
good will toward men. Against the
greatest diplomats that Europe could
produce he fought single handed, al
most, for a peace that would be diff
ferent from the usual settlements of
previous wars.
Ray Stannard Baker, in his little
book What Woodrow Wilson Did AT
Paris tells in q most graphic and
convincing manner what the President
was up against and how his master
mind predominated the whole con-
ference. ! But for the petty jealousy
and narrow p~artianship at home the
Presidents whole program could have
Been put through. Even in spite of
this opposition at his back he sue
ceeded in laying before the world a
scheme that bids fair to achieve that
which but q few years ago had been
merely the dream OF civilization.
h child of President Wilson's
vision, a league of all nations, is
actually In existance-a great brother
hood of free peoples prepared to live
together hereafter in peace and har-
mony, settling disputes hat may arise
through peaceful channels, just as diff
ferences and disputes between individ-
uals are settled.
1t remains only for America to say
what part she will play in this great
forward step in civilization. The op-
portunity Is hers to play the leading
role. Under the leadership of Presi-
dent Wilson the United States can
be In the foremost ranks in this the
greatest of all achievements that has
yet been brought about In the interest
of humanity. Whether or not America
will measure up to her great oppor-
lu0lly rests with INC OhlJSu STATES
senate today.
But President Wilson has done his
part nobly. Upon leaving for France
TO attend the opening of the peace
conference he said he was going to
make secure the victory which he
boys in the trenches and on the sea
had accomplished. President Wilson,,
In the field of diplomacy was as sue
cessful as were the boys on the battle
field. 1t is for the United States sem
ate to say whetherthe young manhood
of this nation and the President of
this great republic shall AVE fought
10 vain.
And so on this doubly festive occa-
zion, the Presidents birthday and the
advent of a new year. the whole ma
ton joins in extending to Woodrow
Wilson the fluctuations of the season
and a rapid recovery from his illness
that he may live to celebrate many
more birthdays, serving his fellow
countrymen and all mankind.