The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-31
A DARING CHALLENGE

'sThis is a challenge that no previous generation ever dared to give ear to. 50 many things have happened, and they have happened so fast in the last four years that I do not think many of us realize what it is that has happened. Think how impossible it would have been to get a body of responsible statesmen seriously to entertain the idea Of the or ganization of league of nations four years ago. And think of the change that has taken place. I was told before came to France that there would be con fusion of counsels about this thing ana I found unity of counsel. 1 found the statesmen with whom I was about to deal united in the idea that we must have a league of nations; that we couiu not merely make a peace settlement anu then leave it to make itself effectuai' but that we must conceive some com mon organization by which we should give our common faith that this peace would be maintained and the conclusions at which we had arrived should be made as secure as the united councils of all the, great nations that fought against Germany could make them. We nave listened to the challenge and that IS the proof that there shall never be war like this again.
 Ladies, gentlemen and countrymen' believe, we welieve, that the spirit or these men are not buried with their bones. Their spirits live. I hope-yea, believe. their spirits are present With us at this hour. { I hope, l feel the impul- sion of their presence. 1 hope that realize the significance of their presence. Think, soldiers, of those comrades or yours who are gone. If they were here, what would they say? They would not remember what you are talking about to- day.s They would remember America. which they left with their high hope and purpose They would remember the terrible field of battle. They would re- member what they constantly recalled in times of danger, what they had come for and how worthwhile it was for them to give their lives for it. And they would say, Forget all the little circumstances of the day Be ashamed of the jeal- ousies that divide you We command you in the name of those who, like ourselves, have died to bring the counsels Of men together, and we remind you what America said she was born for. She was born, she said, to show mankind the way to liberty. She was born to make this great gift common gift. She was born to show men the way of experience by which they might realize this gift and maintain it. and I abjure you in the name of all the great traditions of Amer ica to make yourselves soldiers now once more for all in this common cause. where we need wear no uniform except the uniform of the heart. clothing our selves with the principles of right and saving to men every where, You are our brothers, and we invite you into the com radeship of liberty and peace
 Let us go away hearing these un- spoken mandates of our dead comrades.
 If I may speak personal word, beg you to realize the compulsion that myself am under. By the constitution of our great country I was the com mander-in- chief of these men, advised the Congress to declare that a state of war existed. I sent you these lads over here to die. Shall Lean lever speak a word of counsel which is inconsistent with the assurances I gave them when they came over. It is inconceivable. There is something better if possible that man can give than his life. and that is his living spirit to service that is not easy to resist counsels that are hard to resist, to stand against purposes that are hard to resist, to stand against pur poses that are difficult to stand against, and to say. Here stand I, consecrated in spirit of the men who were once my comrades and who are now gone. and who left me under eternal bonds of fi- delity."