The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-02

| us, nave Deen leu 10 SUluc NCAy
serious thoughts as to what the
basis OF it all is. For l think you
will agree with me that friendship
| is not mere sentiment Patriotism
| is not a mere sentiment. 1t is based
upon principle; upon the principle
| that leads man to give more than
| he demands Similarly, friendship Is
| based not merely upon affection, but
! upon common service. The man ID
not your friend who is not willing
! to serve you, and you are not his
friend unless you are willing TO
serve MIN. And out OF that impulse
Of common interest and desire OF
common service arises that noble
feeling which consecrated friend
ship. And so it does seem to me
that the theme that we must have
in our minds now in this great day
of settlement is the theme Of COM
mon interest and the determination
Of what it is that is our common
interest.
you know that heretofore the
world has been governed. or at any
rate the attempt has been made to
govern it, by partnerships OF interest
and that they have broken down. In
terests do not bind men together. In
terest separates men. For the moment
there is the slightest departure from
the nice adjustment of interests, then
jealousies begin to spring up. There is
only one thing that can bind peoples
together and that is a common deyo-
ton to right. Ever since the history
of liberty began men have talked
about their rights and 1t has taken
several hundred years to make them
perceive that the principle condition
of right is duty and that unless man
performs his full duty hens entitled to
no right. 1t is fine correlation of the
Influence of duty that right is the
equipose and balance of society. And
so when we analyZe the present situa-
ton and the future that we now have
to mould and control, it seems to me
there is no other thought than that
That can guide us.
You know that the United States
has always felt from the very begin
ming Of history that she must keep
herself separate from any kind OF
connection with European politics. /
want to say very frankly to you that
she is not interested IN European poll
tic, but she is interested in the part
nership of right between America and
If the future mad nothing Tor us
but new attempt to keep the world
at right poise by a Dafance Of power
the United States would take no inter
est becaus she will join no combina-
ton OF power which is not conbina-
ton Of all of us. She in not interested
merely In the peace of Europe but in
the peace of the world Therefore, 1t
seems to me that in the settlement
Just ahead of us something
more delicate and difficult than ever
was attempted before, has to be ac-
complished-a genuine concert of mind
and purpose. But while it is difficult,
there is an element present that makes
It easy. Never before in the history of
The world, believe has there been
such a keen international conscious
ness as there is now. Men all over the
world have been embarrassed by inter-
national anita gonism. There is a great
voice in humanity abroad in the world
last now which he who cannot hear is !
deaf. There Is a great compulsion of I
The common conscience now in exist !
ance which If any statesman resist he
viii gain the most unenyiable emf
hence in history. We are not obeying
the mandate of parties or of politics
We are obeying the mandate of hui
|
am not hopeful that the individ- /
lalities of the settlement which we !
ire about to attempt will be altogeth. /
er satisfactory. One has only to- Amply 1
ais mind to any one of the questions
II boundary and altered sovereignty
md of racial aspirations to do some
hing more than. conjecture that there
S no man and no body of men who
know just how they ought to be set
led, and yet il we are to make unsat-
sfsctory settlements we must see to,
t that they are rendered more and /
more satisfactory by the subsequent
adjustments which are made possible.
We must provide the machinery for
in order that we have
he machinery of good will and friend
ship Friendship must have machinery
i ! cannot correspond with you I
cannot cooperate with you cannot
De your friend and If the world is TO
remain body of friends il must have
me means of friendship, the means OF
constant, friendly intercourse. the
means for constant watchfuIness over
he common interests. That makes II
necessary to make some great effort
10 have with one another an easy con-
slant method of conference so thar
roubles may be taken when they are
little and not allowed to proxu r.<t,