Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-04
Rome Citizenship
Is Conferred On
President Wilson

Rome, Friday. Jan. 3.-President
Wilson became a citizen of Rome
tonight. The ceremony took place
in the historic capitol, designed by
MiChaelO Angelo and redolent with
suggestions of ancient and medic
val Rome. Assisting in the services
were King Victor Emmanuel and
Queen Helena, members of the Ital-
ian cabinet, members of the diplo-
matte corps, including Ambassador
and Mrs. Thomas Nelson Page, and
municipal and military authorities.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson, accompan-
/ led by the king and queen, drove to
! the capitol after the dinner at the
| Quirinal. At the conclusion of the
| iZen of Rome, Mr.. Wilson spoke as
| follows:
You have done me a very great
| honor. Perhaps you can imagine
| what a feeling ii is for a citizen Of
one of the newest of the great ma
tions to be made a citizen of this
ancient city. 1t is a distinction
which I am sure you are comforting
upon me as a representative of the
| great people for whim ! speak. One
who has been a student OF history
can not accept an honor of the sort
without having his memory run
| back to the extraordinary series of
events which have centered in this
place.
But as l have thought today, |
have been impressed by the con
trast between the temporary and
permanent things. Many political
changes have centered about Rome.
from the time when from a little
city she grew to be mistress of a
great empire. Change after change
has swept away many things. alter
ing the very form of her affairs
but the thing that has remained
permanent has been the spirit of
Rome and the Italian people. That
spirit seems to have caught with
each age a characteristic purpose OF !
the age
This imperial people now gladly
represents the freedom of nations.
This power which at one time seem
ed to conceive the purpose of gov
erning the world now takes part in
the liberal enterprises of offering
the world its own government. Can
there be a finer or more impressive
illustrat ton of the indestructible
human spirit and Of the unconquer-
able spirit of liberty?
Il have been rejecting in these
recent days about a colossal blum
der-the biunder of force of the
cehtrsi empires. II Germany had
waited a single generation she
would have had a commercial em-
pire of the world She was not
willing TO conquer by skill, by en-
terprise. by commercial success. J
She must needs attempt to conquer |
the world by arms, and the world !
will always acclaim the fact that |
it is impossible TO conquer by arms, !
that the only conquerors are those !
who render the sort of service '
which can be rendered in trade, in !
intercourse and in friendship, and |
there is no conquering power which (
can suppress the freedom of the hui !
man spirit
II have rejoiced personally in the |
partnership of the Italian and the (
American people, because II is a !
new partnership in an old enter 7
prise, and wherever il is undertak- /
en-. the enterprise has always borne /
that handsome name which We call /
Liberty Men have pursued it. /
sometimes like mirage that SEEM (
ed to elude them, that seemed to +
run before them as they advanced, ,
but never have they tagged in their .
purpose to achieve il, and I believe
that ! am not deceived in suppOsing
that in this age Of ours they are /
nearer to it than they ever were .
before.
The light that shone upon the (
summit now seems to shine almost
at our feet. and If we lose it. il will /
only be because we have lost faith |
A breath of hope and of confidence
has come into the hearts and minds
of men.
Il would not have felt at liberty
to come away from America if ! /
had not felt that the time had ar
rived when. forgetting local inter
ests and local ties and local pur-
poses, men should unite in this
great enterprise that will ever tie
free men together as a body OF free
spirits.
"I am honored, sir, 10 be taken
into this ancient comradeship OF
the citizenship of Rome"
itself into the fight against the com