Evening star., 1919-03-09
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN,
star COrrespondent Of The Star.

BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN,
star Correspondent Of The Star.
PARIS, February 27.-President
Wilson's popularity among the people
in Europe has been ascribed to many
[. causes-even unfairly to the use 1
Creel propaganda.
The warmth of his reception in
France in England and Italy was at
tributed by some to the fact that he
was the first President Of the United
states ever to break down old tradi
tions and set foot on European soil
during his tenure of office. This could
not but arouse general popular inter-
est argued some.
His grip on the masses was declared
by others to be due to the fact that
, II was he, who through clever diplo-
macy, brought about the collapse of
the quadruple alliance and the down
fall of the worlds greatest enemy.
Germany.
1t was. said some, because America
had come to the rescue Of Europe and
lad offered her treasure and her blood
in the common cause OF right and JUS
tice.
1t was because he was the leader
of America in the world struggle, ar
gued others.
Again, it was declared that it was
because he was adept in the use of
htgh-sounding platitudes or simple
ideals that could be interpreted by the
common masses. And SO it went.
Two Things Responsible.
But after all is said there are but
two things which are responsible for
President Wilson's reception in Eu-
rope. the great power that he has
the influence that he will continue to
exert in the councils of the nations
until the world has been made safe
Tor decency and justice. They are:
Americas will that war be removed
from consideration in the settlement
of the difficulties Of mankind.
Americas will that shackles be re-
moved from oppressed peoples; that
| peoples themselves-not arrogant
governments-be permitted to decide
be not made pawns for selfish in
terests.
President Wilson was the embodi-
4 ment Of American will This the peo-
PIE th1ough1ns Eurepe se,
tcan be understood by all. 1t is not
necessary for the humble peasant of
/ European countries to turn to his
priest or the nearest Intellectual to
understand the breadth and the scope
OF such simple doctrines. They were
doctrines long cherished secretly:
, BUT with Americas voice to herald
' the day of their coming. with Amer
,ess power to see ,n.nrs that they were
acknowledged ability to see they
were forever perpetuated. a new note
OF hope and courage was sounded in
- oty HIA frh a.
Europe. Wild demonstrations for the
. chief spokesman of America. whose
very power was that of liberty, were
the natural outcome.
What President Said in Speeches.
These peoples believed when the
President said in his speech at Hotel
de Vile in Paris:
when the United States entered the
war it entered not only because 1t
was moved by a conviction that the
purposes Of the central powers were
wrong and must be resisted by men
everywhere who loved liberty and
right, but also because the Illicit am
, billions which they were entertaining
and attempting to realize had led to
practices which shocked our hearts
as much as they offended our prin-
because we knew how profoundly
great principles of right were at
dected, but our hearts moved also
with our resolution.
Whatever influence I exercise,
whatever authority l speak with.
derive from them (the people of the
United States). 1 know what they
have thought, know what they have
what 1 knew was in their minds. it
has been delightful to see how the
consciences and purposes of free men
everywhere responded. We have
merely established our right to the
full fellowship Of those peoples here
and throughout the world who rev.
: erence the right and whose purpose
IS inf1exibly fixed upon the establish
'ment of genuine liberty and justice"
The words of President Wilson at
Gpild Hall in London echoed and re-
,-eshoed throughout Europe. He said:
7As I have conversed with the SOL
-dfers i have been more and more
s,rare that they fought for something
Hat not all of them had defined, but
Nhich all of them recognized the mo-
&atetit you had stated it to them. They
hSd S1ght to do away with an old order
fad establish new one; and the CEN
p 4 and characteristic Of the old or
E0r was that unstable thing which
sw3 called the balance of power; the
II ing in which the balance was de-
p dmned by the sword which was
s1he balance which was maintained by
!. the unstable equilibrium Of competi-
.'tiye interests; the balance Of which
! was maintained by JEALOUS watchful-
mess and by an antagonism Of inter
I SITS which, though it generally was
t1atent. was always deep-seated. And
stie men who have fought in this war
fhave been the men from free nations
$vpho were determined that sort of
<thing should end now and forever"
People Of Europe Understood.
The people Of Europe understood.
sFor they had, through centuries. been
sdhs victim OF this insidious policy
the policy which made them forever
subject at a moments call to tread
repeatedly bloodsoaked battlefields of
,ne continent. They felt that new
sbreath was to be given association
eof nations. 1t was America that was
tto see that the thing was to be ac-
tcomplished.
i, Though disappointment at failure
tto realize all strictly national am
-bitions may give politicians Of Europe
Ca chance to hurl their invective
gainst America and seek to under
.1nine the principle of light upon pub
slic business; though as a result OF
cheated arguments in the business OF
- fecting peace there may be aroused
S1nomentary antipathies. Americas in
skiuence will continue. As the unselhsh
sspirit with which she has proceeded
kbecomeS mora geueraIly known such