Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-03-10

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1920.
EXTRACTS FROM A GRAND ADJ
DRESS.
The following are extracts from the
speech delivered by Temporary Chair
man ]. R. Files, at the recent Demo-
cratic State Convention held in Des
MOines:
political parties find reason for
their being only as they are agencies
for public good. To those millions
who have no party attachment, all
/ who are not merely the blind follow
ers OF party name, those who have
pride in their country's achievement
and faith in its future, who have Wis
ions OF greater splendors to come,
who believe in the democracy Of JEFF
ferson, the Republicanism Of Lincoln,
and the forward-looking,, humanity
4 loving Americanism of Woodrow Will
son, we offer a welcome to our STAN
dards.
Four years ago, we stood at the
opening portals OF war. We were a
speace-loving people. Gladly would
we have adhered to our old tradition
al policy Of isolation but the day OF
isolation was gone. We would have
welcomed any honorable alternative
10 armed conflict, but no alternative
could be found. For two years we
had seen the sparks Of the European
c0nflagration flaming in our own
skies. We had heard the echoes Of
that struggle knocking at our very
doors. Yet did we hope against that
our peace might not be broken. But
there came day, when we looked
back, and to US the battles of Liege
and Namur were the recurrence of
Lexington and Bunker Hill. We
heard the appeal OF Cardinal MERCER,
and to US It was the clarion call OF
Patrick Henry We saw the frail
form OF Edith Cavell manicled and
blind folded and led to her execution,
and to US she was the reincarnation
Of Nathan Hale. Then we knew it was
our war, and had been our war from
the beginning.
We entered the conflict. We per-
formed as America only could per-
form. Just as the thinning ranks Of
our allies faltered in Picardy, and
fell back of KENNEL hill; just as the
Channel Ports rocked before the ap-
prOaehing tread of conquering foe;
then it was that America poured forth
such a reservoir Of power, that four
months from the day Of that July
drive on Chateau Thiery, Germany
was crushed and beaten into helpless
and hopeless submission.
Time and history alone will give
due credit to the leadership that ac-
complished such Incompatible results.
Charged with a greater responsibility
than ever fell to the lot of single
man, Woodrow. Wilson led asSoAe di-
Nneiy ordained From the moment
Of Americas entrance. the issues Of
that war were lifted TO the highest
moral level He saw with Is clarity
Of vision, given to no other great Lead
er, the wonderful possibilities Of se-
curing an enduring peace, In the set
Elements that followed the conflict OF
nations. Subjected to ceaseless fault
finding, assaulted by partisan envy,
pilloried with relentless criticism, he
has kept the faith. That the sacrifices
OF the war might not be in vain, that
permanency might be given to the
settlements OF peace, he has given
freely his very life's strength. He has
shown as sublime courage, as irwin
chile a spirit, IS unwavering faith
and as knightly an example Of sac
rifice, as the annals of human history
record.
Lodge says: s'They must take us
on our own terms, or the gains of
victorious peace will be fmperiled.'
Knox says: "The terms of the treaty
are too harsh and cruel to Germany"
Johnson says: 1--WE must get rid of
the whole miserable mess"
Borah says that If the Savior should
come to earth and command his vote
for the League of Nations, still he
would refuse, and he VOWS that he will
spit upon the platform that endorses
it,"
Those four men, implacable foes of
the treaty, dominate the Foreign Rela-
tons Committee of the Senate. Who
placed them there? And for what
purpose? The answer is not hard to
find The President must be discred-
tied. Tho all that was won by the
war be repudiated, the peace of the
world go to wreck and ruin, and the
fruits Of Victory be thrown to the
dogs, no monument must stand which
was the product OF his hand Just as
the BOurbons defied the deluge, Just
as Nero fiddled while Rome burned.
the Senate toys with the peace OF the
world
Isolation is no longer our protec-
ton. We are just as much in the
worlds currents as il there were no
oceans. For us to retire in the face
OF responsibility, merely means that
we bury our heads in the sand. Ar
gonne and Chateau Thiery were
meaningless if those battles have to
be fought over. We have fought that
war in vain: we betray our soldier
dead II we are not willing to bend
every energy for the purpose of rem
dering impossible, the recurrence of
that awful holocaust.
But there is brighter side. Not
IN hundred lifetimes does there come
to any nation, the opportunity to rem
der service to mankind, that confronfs