Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-03-11

WILSON,.

WllSUh.
ApropOS Of the retirement Of Pres
idcnt Wilson from public Office the
newspapers, magazines and broad
minded public men Of this country
and Europe seem to have We'd with
one another in their splendid cSti-
mates of the character. Statcyman-
ship. splendid ideals and wonder
full achievements of the great man
who. on the lth of this month, laid
down the burdens of public Office
and retired to private life. AS Il
sample Of these we quote here from
the New York Times, IN indcpcnd-
cnt journal generally recognized as
Il hiSh-claSS paper second to none
in America. In Il Scvcn-cOlumn re-
view Of Wilson's public career the
Times, among other things says in
anticipation Of pasl"rity'S verdict:
and so. as the years roll by and
the last traces of party feeling and
personal prejudice Disappear, and
men forget the small things and
have memory only of the great
ones that really matter. the coun-
try will correctly Judge Mr.. Wilson.
; \ great and high place is reserved
for him. There can be no doubt Of
it. When Truth sits mt her elbow
! History bears false witness against
: no man, and the true record of Mr.
: Wilson'S service TO the world will
be an open book. The future in
quircr will not bc at 4 loss to dis
cover the sources and appraisc The
Sainst him: he will judge them. dis
miss them. When Il score of years
have passed, will any man call his
own sanity in question by insist
ing that Woodrow Wilson sought to
override the Constitution, destroy
our sovereignty, and cmbroil us in
all the wars in Europe? For one
thing il can never be charged u
SainSt him that he was false to his
ideals, that he ever betrayed his
principles and his followers. To
falter ut the supreme moment, to
desert cause through timidity or
for selfish advantage-that is a
blundcr that has blightcd many a
high career. Mr.. Wilson was lion
hearted i'll defending and forward
ing his great purposes. He found
new courage as foes multiplied,
fresh reserves Of strength rs their
assaults grew liercer. until at last
he fell, gricvouSly stricken, upon
tho very field Of battle. giving the
last hours Of his manhood's full
strength and vitality to the Amcri-
can people in his effort to make
them understand what his noble
aspirations meant for them. 1t was
Il dark hour for the worlds millions
when he faltcrcd and fell. lie might
not nave been able to accomplish
all that he desired. yet we cannot
bul feel that, had he been spared to
continue the struggle. his powers of
appear ana his resources Of leader
snip would have compelled diff
fcrcnt result
But Mr.. Wilson,: ideas survive.
Inc covenant lives, the cause for
winch he Str0vc is deathiess. The
Cld World reels and is shaken by
alarms because misguided men dc.
lcated his plan to unite all the Dro.
pies Oh the world in th" compact of
peace. The nations again bcsccch
us 10 give them the help he proInis-
ca, to hold aloof no longer, but to
JOIN them in determining the grave
questions that remain unsolvcd.
JON them we shall and must; il
cannot be otherwise, unless men
nave gone altogether mad. And
when the noble work for which ne
lolicd with unilaGginG zeal and de-
Nnt'on is achieved, even though men
VINO come after him may Give il
lhelr name, it will stand through
all lime as the memorial of lis
chief builder, Il great Amcrjcun
President"