The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1921-03-12
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nation of the mighty mission he set
himself still unfulfilled, mission for
which, perhaps, he has given his life
as truly as any of the heroic-dead.
Whatever his mistakes, whatever
his failures whatever his political
vices, Woodrow Wilson will go down
in history as one of Americas great
men, as one of the arch heroes OF the
worlds Armageddon, who sought to
make America greater than herself,
greater than her own. Not greater
In consuest and wealth, but greater
in human principles, greater IN splr-
itual attainment, greater In soul.
The very faults of his tempera-
ment were great. The greatest
phrase-maker of his age, he strove to
sternly abide by those great phrases
that they might become greater
deeds. Yet by compromise, by the
lesser greatness of his strategy and
diplomacy, by "stooping to conquer,
he might have seen his mighty vision
brought to frution. For his greatest
mistake, his bitterest failure, was IN
the antagoniZing of the American
Senate, without whose aid and CO.
operation his Ideals could not be con-
summated. But for that arbitrary
self-sumclency and narrow political
vision, the United States might be In
the League of Nations today-a great
and dominant power IN that mighty
league for retrieving humanity from
the hates and lntrlgues. the greeds
mentIas that lead to ghastly, cruel
and wicked wars. A cOnSummatlon,
we say, still devOutly to be wished.
Another mistake Oh Wilson's, Ioun-
ded, nevertheless, upon sentimental
Justice, as his advocacy OF the sell
determination OF small peoples.
Theoretically this has all the ear
marks OF the greater democracy,
even though IN practice 1t is proving
The inspIraUon tor more conflict ana
unrest. For many small nations
have been dependent so long and are
unlearned IN the complications, the
burdens, the vast responsibilities OF
elf-goVernmenC, that the lnSldlOuS
creed OF Selt-determnatlOn can oc-
caslon little but confusion, and dis
content at this stage of their history
But Woodrow Wilson S0Wed the fer
tile seed of independence, and the
ebulIlent agitators have seen to 1t
that 1t Is faithfully cultivated to a
rank growth without the essential
years OF preparation and slow but
nealtny deVeIOpment necessary to
success.
But If Woodrow Wilson has faileo
it Is not an lgnoble taIlure-and IS,
The Times, DeneVeS, merely a tempo
rary failure at that. And IT be IS
DroKen-hearted today, his SOU may
yet reap the eXaItaJlon OF seeing his
great VISION materallZe, his hte-
work consummated by another great
American coming after him. dis
bravery, his lofty courage, his too
adamant principles, his tremendous
physical sacrifice will not have been
IN vain. America is finer. nobler
country today, no maUIer what MS
failures, Tor Jhat fact that Woodrow
Wilson was its President during the
great world Crisis.
Not for nothing did Wilson OF the
United States dominate the peace
conference IN France. Not for moth
ing did the whole world hang upon
his words and the statesmen of the
powers pay hIm tribute. His force OF
character, his outstanding personal
lty, his fearleSSneSs IN detylng the
old hateful but deep-roOted traditions
ms magnanImous outlook, his inter
nauonaI mind commanded their faith
IN his own and Americas S basic inJeg
rIty which could not be denied. But
he lacked the subtlety, the lesser
abinty to compromise, of Lloyd
George, he lacked the elasticity OF
mlnd-and IN his autocratic, unbeud-
ing righteousness Of purpose he tenn
porarIy defeated his own great ends.
Why, man, he did bestride the
world
Like a Colossus. And we petty
Did walk and peep beneath his huge