Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1921-07-08

Boat warfare. When the time came
to lay down the terms of the armi..
tce, 1t was the American Presiden,
who dictated the terms. The pen of
woodrow Wilson was mightier than
the sword Of Prussia.
II say to you, In all solemnitv
that American Power, prestige, honor
and statesmanship have never. IN the
entire history Of our country. reached
the heights that they did under the
leadership Of Woodrow Wilson.
America has it in her power. not
only to be the moral leader Of the
world. but the material leader of a
new world fashioned ia the moulds
OF peace. Our hearts beat the faster
when we realize that 1t had been
given to our country to lead the
stricken peoples Of the earth I'M
from the valleys to the higher planes
OF achievement. The hour was ripe
for this great adventure. The very
air was surcharged with large and
generous emotions. It was the su-
preme moment in our history. The
time had come to redeem the homes
OF the world and to justify the IN.
ending sacrifices which humanity had
made. There had been. throughout
the period Of the war, such a moving
spirit Of patriotism, and all sorts
and conditions of people had been
drawn so closely together by their
mutual service that there was no
general recognition Of the possibili-
ties Of serious divisions of sentiment.
It. was common saying that we
were no longer Republicans or Demo-
crats-That We were only Americans.
This psychology had been carefully
inculcated and had been amazingly
effective during the hazardous per.
iod through which the country was
passing. The general public did not
either know or sense the dangers
that lurked behind the shifting au-
thority.
Immediately following the cleo
tiOn Of the Republican House and
Senate in 1918. the evils which might
readily have been foreseen. developed
with astounding celerity and became
more virulent and menacing with
each advancing hour. The slumber-
ing opposition to Mr.. Wilson. which
had burned like an inward consum-
ing fire in the breasts of the Re-
publican leaders, burst forth imme-
diately after that disastrous election
Nothing that ingenuity could suggest
or envy could invent was omitted
in the attempt to weaken the influ-
ence of President Wilson at horne
and abroad. Every element of our
population which was supposed to
have some grievance was appealed to
by propaganda of the most sordid
character, Racial animOsities, old
world hatreds. and ancient 1uarre!s.
were deliberately revived. ard large
elements of our population were
taught to think in terms of coun-
tries other than America
"The campaign against Mr.. Wilson
that was carried on. beginning with
the Republican success of 1918. was
not only the most ignOble in tho
history of American politics. but it
had disintegrating effect upon
American solidarity with incalcul-
able consequences Of evil.
"The world was in ruins. industry.
even in our country had been under
severe strain. and in the process of
rehabilitation should have gone for
ward Immediately upon the signing
of the armistice. Nearly hundred
thousand soldiers were dead in
France. Ten million corpses lay up
on the battlefields of Europe. The
smoke still ascended from the ashes
of three hundred billion dollars
worth of property. representing the
wealth of centuries of toll and saw
ing. All nations were involved and
all should have set to work to re-
store the broken structure of civil-
zation. That our Country. being the
strongest and most resourceful. the
richest and least injured. should
have taken the lead in this work
seems pitifully self evident. Had we
not come 20 realize that life is tho
common adventure of all mankind
and that the intimate contacts Of
modern civilization had made il. also.
a common destiny? Had not suffer
ing made us brothers and cured US
of our ancient fears and jealousies?
Had we not learned thar war had
become all-inclusive in its sweeping
disasters and that its avoidance and
suppression are the common concern
of all responsible governments? Did
we not know that there could he no
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