The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-01-20
4 TRIBUTE TO
A GREAT AMERICAN

do you covet distinction? You will
never get it by serving yourself. Do
Il you covet honor? You will get 1t
only as servant Of mankind
Woodrow Wilson's Address at
Swarthmore College, October 5.
1913.
Within Q few days the American
public will be given an opportunity to
express tangibly It's faith In liberal
ideals, and in the world democracy for
which Woodrow Wilson has pe~a the
will be the national free-wih Offering
Tor the endowment o. the Woodrow
Wilson Foundation, the purpose Of
which is to make periodic awards, in
Mr.. Wilson's name. for distinguished
public service. The collection, under
the auspices of nationally represent
alive committee, which begins this
week, will have as its goal the raising
Of fund of $1,000,00 or more.
Woodrow Wilson saw beyond the
momentous conflict Of his day and
made clear to men certain ideals of
world relationship that helped them
to prosecute the ugly business Of war
until victory rested with the peoples
of democracy. Plain men, the men in
the ranks, had begun to believe that
the world had come to Q pass where
living was beyond endurance; yet they
felt, vaguely maybe, that they were
lighting and dying to establish some
principle Of human freedom which
would in effect constitute rebirth of
civilization. 1t remained for the
American to become their highly artic-
ulate spokesman. BY word and deed
ne clarified the issue SO that all the
world could see 1t as q struggle be.
tween democracy and autocracy.
Any student of Mr.. Wilson's life, any
undertaking related to him, must come
to consider this question: What is
the motive that actuated him in his
public life? His ideals have been
published to the world; but what is
the source from which they come!
The answer seems to be found In those
prophetic words uttered early in his
frst term as President of the United
States, do you covet distinction? You
will never get it by serving yourself
Do YOU covet honor? You will get 1t
only as servant Of mankind"
The Foundation created in his name
can find no better watchwords.
On Christmas Eve. 1920. q group Of
women met to consider what was then
nebulous wish to pay some sort OF
tribute to the man who was shortly to
leave the White House. There was
no doubt in their minds as to the ver-
dict of history; rather the thought
was to establish q precedent. II pos.
sible, and honor a great American
while he lived. Great men had seldom
been so honored.
The thought Of tribute was dis
cussed among the women and then
presented to group OF men, friends
of Mr.. Wilson and former members Of
his official family, and finally the
nebulous desire to honor him while he
lived became the Woodrow Wilson
Foundation.
The materialized idea has been de-
veloped far beyond the thought of a
tribute to the former President. II
Is to be that, of course. but chiefly it
10 to perpetuate his ideals Of democ-
racy and human freedom, and in such
form as to be both an inspiration and
reward to other men whose ambition
1t is to enable the world to live more
amply with greater vision, with
finer spirit of hope and achievement
The Foundation, created In recog.
milton OF the national and international
services Of Woodrow Wilson," will
provide awards for "meritorious serv
ice to democracy. pubic welfare. lib
eral thought or peace through Justice"
The founding Of an institution which