The St. Joseph observer., 1921-02-12
AN APPRECIATION AND A
pHOPHECY

wOrld-figure in the democratizauon
OF humanity. His was the first world
utterance to be heard in the cause of
universal suffrage. He seized the ex-
piring torch of civilization from
amidst the ruins of a Europe cropping
in darkness. and held 1t aloft that the
despairing peoples might kindle their
affairs anew with the sacred flame Of
freedom.
He bore the loftlest message of tho
kind since the Divine Voice out OF
Nazareth. His words we're as truly
inspired as the exhortations of the
old Hebrew prophets. and the listen
ing nations hung on his sentences
with hearts set a-throb with q new
world-hope.
When the Machiavelian emissaries
of the Allies, subservient to all the
mean and narrow traditions OF medie-
val diplomacy, interJected their sinis-
ter designs into the councils that were
to determine the fate OF world,
Woodrow Wilson threatened TO appeal
to their masters, the multi-millioned
masses behind them. They knew. and
he knew, that the threat was not idle,
and that his appeal would be heark-
last resort Accordingly they profess
ed to yield, and camouflaged for the
time the Interior motives that domi-
mated their thought and action.
1t was only after weeks and months
of the most strenuous. nerve-wracking
toll ever piled on to the shoulders of
one mortal man, that the League OF
Nations took shape as the first at
tempt In history to make a world safe
for democracy. document that
marks a new era in the affairs OF
mankind. AS vastly more important
than the Magma Charta or the Declar-
alton of Independence. as the stupen-
dous total OF humanity surpasses in
| importance any one people.
At the time of the armistice all
Europe was one welter of blood-lust
greed, and revenge. English, French.
Italians. Belgians-saw red. and only
redl The british passions engendered
and nursed through four years of ter
rible warfare were at last let loose.
Germany. with its teeming millions
OF kindred Teutonic blood. was to be
utterly crushed. ruined. starved. an
initiated. In the meantime. England
| was to get this, France that. Belgium
something else, and Italy to have what
was left. Into this embodiment of
seething hatred and embittered pas
sions, came Woodrow Wilson, the sole
standard bearer of Christian civiliza-
tlon. With a simplicity of demeanor
begotten only of true democracy, with
a dignity of bearing born only of self
conscious worth. the American presi-
dent took his seat at the council ta-
BILE, easily chief among his compeers.
Nay, more, the first man among all
men; the cynosure of all the eyes of
earth.
Singly and unaided he fought his
battles in that daily tournament Of
Titans. Even among those closest to
him. his own countrymen, from his
own land. he found but half-hearted
support. The loneliest man in all the
world! Still he wavered not or finch
) ed. UpbOrne by one of the most in
} domitable wills ever vouchsafed to
man. he struggled on. a marvel of
| endurance, a miracle of patience and
! courage. Victory came at last, as
victory must ever come to men of like
; mold. The League of Nations was
, born! Whatever of compromise there
: is in it; whatever of the imperfection
that turks in all human undertaking.
5 the germ is there. TO grow throughout
E the ages, till universal peace lies like
] a shaft of light across all lands"
5 That Woodrow Wilson freely offered
! up his life in the self-same cause for
= which our brave soldier-boys died on
: Flanders-fields, even his enemies will
spared by an all-wise Providence for
greater tasks to come, does not affect
the nobility OF tho sacrifice. Nor was
the fate Of the troops on the battle
field less happy one. Their suffer-
ings are over. their enshrinement in
e the hearts of their countrymen assur-
y ed forever. But the president has en-
e dured for years the envenomed shafts
d OF political hatred and private malio e.
= History, however. will set him Alright
s in the eyes OF posterity. His place Ia
g secure in the pantheon of the worlds
Y. great men.
IT Now that the burdens are to be
{, lifted from his shoulders, the Alex
e andria Gazette wishes the pres
st ident long years OF improving health
Al ana conaaouanf uaaf,ilnpSa IN man.