Evening star., 1922-11-12
Armistice Day Speech and
Letter Indicate Revival
of League Fight.
'PUNY PERSONS BLOCKING
PEACE, HE TELLS CROWD
Common Understanding Needed,
Not "Amiable Phrases"
He Declares.

Former President Wilson is prepar-
Ing to play an important part in
democratic councils and perhaps again
assume leadership Of his party. II an
Interpretation placed upon two incl
dents involving Mr.. Wilson yesterday
Is correct.
The first was q speech before 5000
friends who journeyed to his street
house to pay him tribute on Armistice
day. In it Mr.. Wilson declared the
world peace could be brought about
only by active cooperation for jus
tice" and mot by amiable phrases"
The second was letter to Senator
Caraway, made public by the latter.
in which Mr.. Wilson said: I'VE must
now clear our minds and purify our
hearts to offer to the country in 1924
exactly the service it most needs and
the candidate who can best render
that service"
Raps '.Punyn Persons.
America always has stood for
justice, MI. Wilson said in his speech.
adding that the ''puny persons" now
standing in the way would find pr s.
emily that their weakness Is no
match for the strength Of a moving
Providence"
The former President spoke stand
Ing on the portico of his s street
residence and without manuscript or
notes. His remarks consumed about
five minutes They were the first he
had made on public questions since
he was stricken on hts league Of
nations tour Of the west three years
ago. This was his third public ap-
pearance since he left the White
House on March 4. 1921.
The text Of his speech follows:
IT am very much moved BY this
wonderful exhibition of your friend
ship and approval and. Ishavs been
rejecting today that Armistice day
has particular significance for the
United States because the United
States has remained contented with
the armistice and has not moved
forward to peace.
'1t is a very serious reflection that
tive nation, should remain contented
with tho negation. Armistice is q
negation: 1t is a standstill of arms;
it is cessation Of fighting, and we are
so bent on a cessation Of fighting
that we are even throwing our arms
away.
ut is a singular circumstance to
which Mr.. Morgenthau has, In part
adverted that. while we prescribed the
conditions Of the armistice, We did
not concur in the establishment OF
permanent peace. That. of course, was
brought about by a group in the
United States Senate. who preferred
personal partisan motives to the
honor Of their country. and tho peace
Of tho world.
'They do not represent the United
States, because the United States is
moving forward, and they are slipping
backward. Where their slipping will
end, God will determine.
And I have also been rejecting
upon the radical difference between
armistice and peace. Armistice, as I
have said. is a mere negation: it is
the refraining from force. But peace
is q very positive and constructive
thing as the world stands nowadays.
because 1t must be brought about
by the systematic maintenance Of a
common understanding and by cul-
tivation-not by amiable phrases but
the active cooperation for justice; ;
and Justice is a greater thing than
any kind of expediency.
America has always stood for JUS
tice, and always will stand fer It.
Puny persons who are now standing
in the way will presently find that
their weakness is no match for the
strength Of a moving Providence. If
you will pardon an invalid for put
ting on his hat I viii promise not to
talk through it
CAeerea by u Uvvd.
II think then we may renew today
our faith In the future though we
arc celebrating the past The future
is in our hands. and II we are not
equal to 1t, the shame will be ours
and none others. I thank you from
q very full heart, my friends, for this
demonstration Of kindness by you
and bid you and the nation God
speed"
The appearance Of Mr.. Wilson. who
was assisted to the portico by a negro
servant, was the signal for prolonged
cheers from the crowd that packed
the street and overdowed on nearby
lawns and a vacant field. The war
time President responded with q smile
and . raising Of his conventional silk
hat. Mra Wilson did not accompany
him. but as she appeared to assist him
back indoors at the conclusion Of his
address. she. too. received an ovation
Mr.. Wilson's address was In response
to ono delivered to him by Henry
Morgenthau. former ambassador to
Turkey, who declared that the prin-
ciples enunciated by Mr.. Wilson dur
ing tho war would prevail and that
on last Tuesday 1t had been demon.
strated that 'the people Of America
are escaping from matertalism and
selhshness and are preparing again
to recognise their solemn and inexor-