The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-01-02
PAGE TWO
PRESIDENT MEETS SOLDIERS

II the meeting of President Wilson
with the soldiers of the United States
on Christmas day in France, there is
is the first record of a ruler meeting
in a foreign land an army Of his own
country fighting battles not their own
In introducing the president to the
army, General Pershing made the fol
lowing remarks, according to the Assoc
ciated Press report:
mir. President and fellow soldiers :
We arc gathered here today TO do
honor to the commander of our armies
and navies. For the first time IN
American president will review an
American army on foreign soil-the
soil of a sister republic beside whose
gallant troops we have fought to re-
store peace to the world.
Speaking for you and your com
rades, / am proud to declare to the
president that no army has ever more
Loyalty or more effectively served It's
country, and none has ever fought in
a nobler cause.
you, Mr.. President, by your conf
dence and by your support have made
the success Of our army, and to you,
as our commander-in-chief may | now
present the nations victorious army
In his address to the soldiers Pres
ident Wilson said that he did not find
in the hearts OF the great leaders with
whom he was cooperating any differ
ence of principle or of fundamental
purpose. President Wilson said:
Gen. Pershing and fellow com
rades: | wish that | could give TO
each one of you the message that |
know you are longing TO receive from
those at home who love you. ! can
not do that, but | can tell you how
every one has put his heart into il
that you have done your duty, and
something more. You have done your
duty, and you have done it with n
spirit which gave it distinction and
glory.
"And now we are to hail the fruits
of everything. You conquered, when
you came over, what you came e
for, and you have done what II was
appointed for you TO do. | know what
you expected of me. Some time ago
a gentleman from one of the cou1-
tries with which we are associated
was discussing with me the moral
aspects OF this war. and ! said TIA;
81 we did not insist upon the high
purpose when we have accomplished
the end would not be justified
Everybody al home IL proud Of ycu
and has followed every movement O.
this great army with eon66ence and
affection.
The whole people OF the United
States are now waiting 20 welcome
you home with an acclaim which
probably has never greeted any other
army. because our country is like this
country. We have been so proud OF
the stand taken (of the purpose) for
which this war was entered by the
United States.
you know what we expected of
you and you did IT, | know what you
and the people at home expected OF
me; and am happy to say, my fellow
countrymen, that I do not find in the
hearts OF the great leaders with whom
II is m privilege 10Y to cooperate
any difference Of principle or of fun
damental purpose.
at happened hat it was the privi-
lege OF America to present the chart
for peace, and now the process Of set
Element has been rendered compare
lively simple by the fact that all the
nations concerned have accepted that
chart and the application Of these
principles laid down there will be
their application. The world will now
know that the nations that fought this
war, as well as the soldiers who rep
resented them, are ready to make
good: make good not only in the as
sertion OF their own interests, but
make good in the establishment of
peace upon the permanent foundation
OF right and of justice.
Because this Is not a war In which
the soldiers of the free nations have
obeyed masters. You have command
ers, but you have no masters. Your
very commanders represent you in
representing the nation, of which you
constitute so distinguished a part.
"And everybody concerned in the
settlement knows that it must be a
peoples peace aud that nothing must
be done in the settlement of the is
of the war which is not as hand.
some as the great achievements of the
armies of the United States and the
allies.
cit is difficult, very difficult, men. in
any normal speech like this to show
you my real heart. You men prob
ably do not realize with what anxious
attention and care we have followed
every step you have advanced and
how proud we are that every step was
In advance, and not in retreat; that
every time o set your face in any
direction you kept your face in that
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