The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-07-10
HOPE OF FREE PEOPLES RESTS ON LEAGUE OF 77ONS-VSO

| am happy TO report that the fint
group OF Americans who helped WIN
their expert advise in each part OF tho
varied settlements sought IN every
transaction to justly the high conf
denoe reposed in them
! And that confidence. Il seems &c
me, is the measure OF our opportunity
OF our duty IN the days to come IN
which the new hope of the peoples OF
| the world is to be fulfilled or dis
appointed. The fac, that America IS
| the friend OF the nations whether they
be rivalt or associates is no new tact.
il is only the discovery by the
rest of the world that is new,
U. S. Young as World Power.
AMERICA NAV be said to have Just
reached her, majority as world power.
Ii was almost exactly twenty one
years ago that the results OF the war
with Span put Us Unexpectedly IN pos
session OF rich islands on the other
side OF the world and brought us into
association with other governments in
the control OF the West Indies. 1t was
regarded as a sinister and omlnous
thing by the statesmen OF more than
one European chancellery that we
should have extended our power
beyond the confines of op continental
Acminiops. They were accustomed TO
think OF new neighbors as a new
menace, OF rivals as watchful enemies
There were persons amongst us at
home who looked with deep disapprov-
al and avowed anxiety on such cxten-
SONS OF our national authority over
distant nations and peoples whom they
feared might exploit, not serve and
assist, We have not exploited them
We have been their friends and have
sought to serve them And our domln-
ION has been A menace 10 no other
nation. We redeemed our honor to the
utmost in our dcaliugs with Cuba, She
is weak but absolutely free, and 1t is
her trust in us that makes her free.
No Ground to Fear U. S.
Weak peoples everywhere stand
ready to give us any authority among
them that will assure them like
friendly oversight and direction They
know that there is no ground Tor fear
in receiving us as their mentors and
guides Our isolation was ended
twenty years ago and now fear of u'
is ended also, our counsel and aSSo-
citation sought after and desired
There can be no question ct our ccaS-
ing TO be a world power The only
question is whether we can refuse
the moral leadership that is offered
Us, whether we shall accept or reject
the confidence oi the world
"The war and the conference Of
peace now sitting in Paris seem
to me to have answered that ques-
tion. Our participation In the
war established our position
among the nations and nothing
but our own mistaken action can
alter II. II was not an accident
or 4 matter of sudden choice
that we are no longer isolated
and devoted to policy which
has only own own interest and
advantage for its object. II was
our duty to 70 in, If we were in
deed the champions Of liberty and
of right. We answered to the
call of duty in way so spirited,
so utterly without thought of
what we spent Of blood and treas
ure, so effective, so worthy OF
the admiration of true men every
where, so wrought out of the
stuff Of all that was heroic. that
the whole world saw at last, in
the flesh, in noble action, 4 great
ideal asserted and vindicated, by
a nation they had deemed mate
rial and now found TO be compact
of the spiritual forces that must
free men OF every nation from 1
every unworthy bondage. n is
thus that a new role and 4 new
responsibility have come TO this
great nation that We honor and
which we would all wish TO lift
to yet higher levels Of service and
achievement.
The stage Is set, the destiny
disclosed. II has come about by
no plan Of our eonceiving, but by
the hand OF God who led US into
this way. We cannot turn back.
We can only 10 forward. with
lifted eyes and freshened spirit,
to follow the vision. 1t was OF
this that we dreamed at our
birth. America thall in truth
show the way. The light streams
upon the path ahead, and no
(where else"