Evening journal., 1919-12-29

War College at Washington, and. II we
have interpreted Alright the reports
from Europe. just so the officers and
soldiers OF the Allied armies were en-
lhuslastlc over him.
"Ile was born TO be great, and he
never put anything in the way OF II. lie
kept his habits good. his mind occu-
pied, and his heart pure When he was
in the State University Of Nebraska, h.
was an officer Of the United states
Army with a JOB for life and promo
Lion certain. Many man would have
been contenled TO have performed his
regular duties and wa ted his leisure
time; but pershing entered The Law
College. and graduated with the class OF
%. Some people have wondered IT
. he intended 20 quit the army. but the
fact that he did not Is the best answer.
"tle was only laying The foundations
deeper and broader for the big work OF
his l,ie- lie then had law course more
10 MS advantage than the average army
officer. When ne went 20 West Point
b teach. he occupied his leisure NOM
ents with the study Of diplomacy, and
added another title 20 international
law and International hsl equipment for
hfe's work.
"Is 20 20 bc wondered then why as a
captain De succeeded In bringing order
out Of cnaos in the Philippines and Of
establishing civil government that mas
enjured for twenty years with hardly
an amendment or a change after others
OF maturer years and higher rank had
iailed2 Is there any wonder that as
the youngest OF his associates In the
great War College at Washington he at
once was recognized as its leader?
lie was prepared-he had fitted him
self. God gave him q strong physique,
but ne took care OF it; God gave him
a resourceful mind, but De nurtured and
developed 70 into a mighty machine
that has worked miracles everywhere;
The government trained him as a war
rior. but he trained himself 20 be q
diplomat: the government educated him
at West Point 20 be a soldier, but he
educated himself at Nebraska Univer-
sity, Columbia and elsewhere. TO be
civilian statesman. ale went to Europe
as the Commanding General OF the most
potent army the world ever saw. but
he organized the greatest transportation
system in the Shortest time, and nego-
tlaled the most important treaties and
international obligations that nations
have ever assumed.
Ills services IN Europe are no less
important as a statesman and as an
Industrial genius, than as commander
OF our EXpedltionary Forces. Was IL
all an accident: wae 10 an accident that
President Wilson selected him; was 10
an accident that ne was given these
mighty tasks. and this tremendous power
and responsibility; was 10 an accident
that President Roosevelt made him q
brigadier general ahead Of his time and
in advance Of his wears: was 10 an acci-
dent that he made world peace In Eu-
rope with the same triumphant sue
cess. and the same humble and modest
efilciency7 Was It an accident that
from the time he arrived in France the
whole method OF warfare was changed
from the trenches and the long walls
between battles into That OF lighting
every day and every night, sundays ana
holidays. with no quarter 10 the enemy
anywhere at any time? That was Per
shlng's fight as a captain in the Philip
pines twenty years ago, 70 was Amer
ica's fight in Europe, ana it won IN Doth
places.
as 70 an accident now that ne comes
back home and generously gives all the
credit for his success as a soldier 10 the
grave American boys who did the
fighting. and 20 the splendid men n
business for his success in the indus
trial end Of it, and al the while claim
ing nothing for himself?
a thousand times we answer No
there Is no accident about it, there is
an invisible power that guides the des-
tiny Of men and nations through human
instrumentalltles Just as George Wash
ington was the instrument9lity under
God by which this nation was born.
and lust as Abraham Lincoln was the
instrumentality TO bring freedom to the
lack man and save the union, so Cen
eral Pershing was the trumentality
OF God 10 bear the ideals of American
democracy unto the nations Of Europe.
and TO rescue the peace Of the world
from the menace Of militarism. When
duty called him. Il found him ready.
Others might have done as well, but
none could have done it better.
"The American people have never
been ungrateful 10 their heroes OF war.
and with General Pershing there should
be no exception. lie is the best fitted
man In America today for the recon
struction period Of the next four wears.
He knows the 1--WE millions Of our sol
der boys. and what they endured. He
knows the agony Of the American home
whence loved ones have fallen. He
knows the Ideals OF Americanism for
which those boys and those homes
stand: he knows the problems Of Eu-
rope. the ambitions and perpleXities Of
the Orient and the tangled conditions 0f
Mexico better than any other man IN
America today. His information is first
hand. His life work has fitted and
equipped him particularly for this par
ticular hour in the nations history.
Just as Wilson drafted him for Eu-
rope, so win the American people draft /
him today for he is tlrst in the hearts |
Of his countrymen."