Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-02-26

If she does not justify that hope the
results are unthinkabe.
Men will be thrown back upon the
but the bitterness of despair. All ma
tons will be set up as hostile camps
again; the men at the peace confer
ence will go home with their heads
upon their breasts, knowing that they
have failed-for they were hidden not
to come home from there until they
did something more than sign a treaty
of peace.
"Does Not Know America"
Suppose we sign the treaty of peace
and that it is the most satisfactory
treaty of peace that the confusing ele-
mcntS of the modern world will afford,
and go home and think about our la
bors; we will know that we have left
written upon the historic table at Yer
Sailles, upon which Vergennes and
Benjamin Franklin wrote their names,
nothing but a modern scrap of paper;
no nations united to defend it, no great
forces combined to make it good, no
assurance given to the down-trodden
and fearful people of the world that
they shall be safe.
"Any man who thinks that America
will take part in giving the world any
such rebuff and disappointment as that
does not know America.
81 invite him to test the sentiments
of the nation. We set this up to make
men free and we did not confine our
conception and purpose to America
and now we will make men free. II
we did not do that the fame of Amer
lea would be gone and all her powers.
would be dissipated. She then would
have to keep her power for those mar
row, selfish, provincial purposes which
seem so dear to some minds that have
no sweep beyond the nearest horizon.
Il could welcome no sweeter chaI-
lenge than that. have fighting blood
in me and it is sometimes delight to
let it have scope, but if it is chal-
lenge on this occasion it will be an in
diligence. Think OF the picture, think
of the utter blackness that would fall
on the world. America has failed
America made little essay at gen.
crosby and then withdrew. America
said: We are your friends but IL
was only for today, not for tomorrow.
Speaks of "Friendless." q
America said: Here is our power
to Vindicate right and then the next
day said: Let right take care of it.
selves America said: We set up a
light to lead men along the paths of
liberty, but we have lowered it. It is
intended only to light our own path
We set up great ideal Of liberty and
then We said: Liberty is a thing that
you must win for yourself. Do not call
upon u.s. and think of the world thai
we would leave.
"DO you realize how many new ma
tions are going to be set. up in the
presence of old and powerful nations
in Europe and left there, If left by us.
without disinterested friend?
do you believe in the Polish cause,
as l do? Are YOU going to set up POI
land, immature, inexperienced, as yet
unOrganized, and leave her with q cir
Gle Of armies around her? Do you be-
lieve in the aspiration of the Czech0-
Slovaks and the JugO-Slavs as ] do?
'Do you know how many powers
would be quick to pOunce upon them
IL there were not the guarantees of the
world behind their liberty?
. Have you thought of the suffering
of Armenia? You poured out your
money to help succor the Armenians
after they suffered; now set yosr
strength so that they shall never suffer
again.
THE arrangements Of the present
peace cannot stand a generation unless
they are guaranteed by the united
forces of the civilized world. And IL
we do not guarantee them, can you
not see the picture? Your hearts
have instructed you where the burden
of this war fell. 1t did not fall upon
the national treasures, it did not fall
upon the instruments of adminiStra-
ton, 1t did not fall upon the resources
OF the nations. 1t fell upon the vic
TINS homes everywhere, where women
were toiling in hope that their men
would come back.
when l think of the homes upon
which dull despair would settle were
This great hope disappointed, I
should wish for my part never to have
had America play any part whatever
in this attempt to emancipate the
world.
No Doubt Of the Verdict.
''But l talk as If there were any
question. | have no more doubt of
the. verdict of America in this matter
that ] have doubt of the blood that is
in me.
And so, my fellow citizens, L have
come back to report progress, and / do
not believe that the progress is going
TO stop short OF the goal. The nations
of tiie-world have set their heads now
to do great thing, and they are not
going to slacken their purpose,