The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-03-05

unlovely woman with features dis
torted with hatred, greed and selfish
ness, and the little child that the
woman carried was scarcely noticed
Yet it was for the saving Of the child
that Wilson had labored until he was
physical wreck. Let our other
great statesmen and leaders enjoy
their well-earned honors for their un-
questiond success at Paris. To Wood
row Wilson, the apparent failure, be-
longs the undyirS honor, which Will
grow with the growing centuries Of
having saved the little child that
shall lead them yet" No other states
Ian but Wilson could have done it.
And he did it.
The people, the common people of
all lands, did not understand the
significance Of what had happened.
They saw only that hard, unlovely
Prussian peace, and the great hope
died in their hearts. The great dis
illusionment took it's place. The most
receptive mood for new start the
world had been in for centuries
passed away. Faith in their COVER
nors and leaders was largely de-
strOyed, and the foundations of hu-
man government were shaken in a
way which will be felt for genera
tionS. The Paris peace lost an Op-
portunity as unique as the great war
itself. In destroying the moral ideal
ism born of the sacrifices of the war
it did almost as much as the war it
self in shattering the structure Of
western civilization.
And the Odium for all this fell
especially on President Wilson. Round
him the hopes had centred; round
him the disilusion and despair now
gathered. Popular opinion largely
held him responsible for the bitter
disappointment and grievous failure.
The cynics scoffcd; his friends were
silcnccd in the universal disappoint-
ment. Little on nothing had been en-
pected from the other leaders; the
whole failure was put to the account
Of Woodrow Wilson. And finally
America for reasons OF her own joined
| the pack and at the end it was his
own people who tore him to pieces.
Will this judgment, born of mo-
mentary disiilusion and disappoint-
mcrt, stand in future, or will it be
reversed? The time has not come to
pass final Judgment on either Will
son or any Of the other great actors
! in the drama at Paris. The personal
estimates will depend largely on the
| Interpretation Of that drama in the
course of time. As one who saw and
watched things from the inside ] feel
convinced that the present popular
| estimates are largely superficial and
viii not stand the searching test Of
| time. And / have no doubt whatever
| that Wilson has been harshly, UNI
fairly, unjustlY dealt with, and that
ne mas bene made scapegoat for the
sins OF others. Wilson made mis-
takes, and there were occasions when
| Ventured to sound n warning note.
| but II was not his mistakes that
caused the failure for which he has
been held mainly responsible.
l,ct us admit the truth. however
bitter it is to do so for those who
believe in human nature. 1t was
not Wilson who failed. The position is
lar more serious. 1t was the human
spirit itself that failed at Paris. 1t
is no use passing Judgments and
! making SCapcgoatS of this or that in
| diNidual statesman or group of
statesmen. ldcaliSiS make a great
mistake in not facing the real facts
sincerely and resolutclN. They be
licVc i'm the power of the spirit, in The
goodness which is at the heart ~
things i'm the triumph which is i'm
! Stor" for tho great moral ideals or
the race. Eut this faith only to" Of