The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-01-03
SPIRIT Of FREEDOM
DOMINATES WORLD
WILSON DECLARES GREAT MORAL
FORCE WILL DISGRACE
ITS OPPONENTS.
WILL PROTECT THE WORLD
Searching Light of Conscience Should
Be Turned on All Wreng-PresI-
dents Speech Accepting Degree
From University of Paris.

Paris.-The presidents first work
In France finds the preliminary situa.
ton surrounding the peace conference
fairly well developed toward the point
where, according to the presidents
view, 1t will be worth while for the
United States to participate. The
presidents conferences with French
and Italian statesmen have served to
emphasize that he considers a treaty
or peace not enough, but that the gen.
eral agreement to be made among the
nations must include a satisfactory set
tlement of the question Of the freedom
Of the seas and league of nations.
The president left for England to
continue the discussions there along
the same lines as those he had with
the representatives of France and
Italy, which the presidents advisers
describe as having been satisfactory.
President Wilson, in acknowledging
the honor bestowed upon him by the
University of Paris in the form of
doctors degree, said:
Il feel very keenly the distinguished
honor which has been conferred upon
me by the great University of Paris,
and 1t is very delightful to me also to
have the honor of being introduced
into the great company of scholars
whose life and fame have made the
history of the University of Paris
thing admirable among men of cultiva-
tion In all parts of the world.
by what you have said, sir, OF the
theory of education which has been
followed in France, and which have
tried to promote In the United States,
am tempted to venture upon favor
ite theme. have always believed that
the chief object of education was TO
awaken the spirit, and that inasmuch
as literature, whenever 1t has
touched its great and higher notes,
was an expression of the spirit of
mankind, the best induction into edu-
cation was to feel the pulses of human
ity, which had beaten from age to age
through the universities of men who
had penetrated to the secrets OF the
human spirit.
"And | agree with the intimation
which has been conveyed today that
the terrible war through which we
have just passed has not been only
war between nations, but that 1t has
also been a war between systems of
c6lture-the one system. the agrees
sive system, using science without con-
science, stripping learning OF its moral
restraints and using every faculty OF
the human mind to do wrong to the
whole race: the other system reminis-
cent of the high tradition OF men, re-
miniscent OF all their struggles, some
of Them obscure. but others closely re-
vealed to history, of men Of indomit-
able spirit everywhere struggling to-
ward the right and seeking above all
things else to be free.
THE triumph of freedom In this
war means that that spirit shall now
dominate the world. There is great
wave OF moral force making through
the world and every man who opposes
himself to that wave will go down In
disgrace.
"The task of those who are gath
cred here, or win present be gathered
here, to make the settlements OF this
peace is greatly simplied by the fact
that they are the masters of no one:
they are the servants OF mankind. And
II we do not heed the mandates OF
mankind we shall make ourselves the
most conspicuous and deserved fall
ures In the history OF the world.
my conception Of the league of M.
tons Ia just this-that II shall operate
as the organized moral force of men
throughout the world and that when.
ever wrong and aggression are planned
or contemplated, this searching light
OF conscience will be turned upon them
and men viii ask: What are the pur.
poses that you hold in your heart
against the fortunes Of the world?'
"Just q little exposure win settle
most questions. II the central powers
had dared to discuss the purposes OF
this war for single fortnight Il never
would have happened. And II, as
should be. they we're forced to have
discussed It for year the war would
have been inconceivable.
so feel that this war Is. as has
been said more than once today. inti-
mately related with the university
spirit. The university spirit Is intoler.
ant of all things that put the human
mind under restraint II is intoler-
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Americans Occupy German Fortress.
Cohlenx-The German fortress OF
Ehrenhreitstein. sometimes called the
Gibraltar OF the Rhine. on the opposite
bank Of the river from Coblenz. Is now
occupied BY American troops. The
commander OF the American forces Is
81 poHa~f Rnwprx West Point