The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-03-08

as the man who was behind the in
spiration Of their greatest moments;
who stirred them to fresh under
standing of the meaning of words that
mad become mere patter on many
tongues democracy" union" He
made them realities, personal, deep
showed them as the reason of all
that is good in our present, all that
is hopeful in our future, the working
basis on which men may strive to
liberty OF soul and peaceful achieve
ment. He made them literally things
to die for lifting all of our plain,
humble thousands who never knew
applause Of wealth or the honor of
Office into the ranks OF those who are
wiling to die for an ideal-the high
est plane that humans reach.
People are thinking, also, of his
work in that aftcr-war period when
tho hate, revenge, and bitterness that
war has loosed have none of the
restraints that war compcls, and we
must. by reason and good will and
patience, restore cur controls-that
terrible period we speak OF as recon
Struction. There too he kindled en-
,husiasms. "Now," he said, 'lct us
do what men havo long dreamed
give to each people its chance, cut
down the foolish barriers Of trade.
limit our armamcnts, enter into
union CT all nations Dledgcd to CO.
operation and peace"
Tho people Of til earth rallied to
rs plan. pledged themselves. And
thon the looS2d passions began their
~ar on him. Those who wanted peace
ard believed it easy; thosc'who hated
peace and believed it impossiblc;
those envicd his place differed with
his Judgment, failed of his favor
these and many more Joined in an
"ttack such as few men have ever
faced in the history OF this Garth. He
fought 10 n finish, that he might
secure the pledge of the nations to the
ideal Of world cooperation.
lie won-won with tho peoples of
tho world if not With all of their
governments. They look to him as
deep into the souls Of the nations that
no man or men can ever destroy it.
1t has become an asset Of tormented
humanity u possible way out Of
slaughter and hate. Through all thu
future, men will be building upon II,
adapting, expanding, as mon have
built on Washington's work, on Lin
s~work, knowing thai their efforts
rest on something essentially sound
and secure.
They are simple people, remember,
those thousands whose hearts he had
enkindled. They are the people who
do the work Of the world, and their
minds are easily bewildered. Gle has
deceived you" they were told. "Hc
has given you dreams. Dreams are
not for men. You live by realities,
not ideals, Out with him! Down
with him! AS a great nation, you
have strength, you have gold. Keep
them. Stand alone. Do not forget
that you do not live by ideals"
And the people withdrew-bewilder
cd. But the shouting over they re-
membered their long days Of cxalta-
ton, Of sacrifice, Of freedom ana
boldness, Of worthwhilcness. Was it
only a deception? Was all they had
left a mere magic Of words on their
unframed minds, the stir of fleeting
passion in their lives? Was there no
sense, no reality, in it all?
That is what thousands upon thou
sands have been asking in these past
days. And slowly they are turning
to him who led them. His suffering
face and palsied side are a symbol OF
their crippled hopes. "How is it with
him." they ask "a living sacrifice to
that faith and that vision? Does he
still believe? Has he lost faith as
we'll as strength?'
And SO they seek him. He means
something to them: they don't quite
know what. He is a living link with
their noblest phase. Those who de-
stroyed that phase are giving them
nothing in its place. What does it
all mean? And so they follow his
carriage, gather before his house.
stand in rain and snow and cold be-
fore the theatre to get even the most