The vidette., 1922-03-02
!. TIsHOMlNGO COUNTY. MISSISSIPPI.


union" II made them realities, personal, deel
showed them as the reason of all that is good il
our present, all that is hopeful in our future, th,
working basis on which men may strive to libert,
of soul and peaceful achievement He made then
literally things to die for lifting all of our plain
humble thousands who never knew applause OF
wealth the honor of office into the ranks of those
who are willing to die for an ideal-the bghes
planes that humans reach.
People are thinking, ALSO Of his work in that aft
war period when the hate revenge and bitterness
that war has loosed have none of the restraints
that war compes, and we must, by reason and
good will and patience, restore our controls-tha
terrible period we speak of reconstruction. There
too he kindled enthusiasmS. Now he said let
US do what men have long dreamed-gve to each
people its chance, cut down the foolish barriers of
trade, limit our ornaments enter into union OF
all nations pledged to cooperation and peace"
The peoples of the earth rallied to his plan,
pledged themselves. And then the loosed p ssions
began their war on him. Those who wanted peace
and believed it easy; those who hated peace and
believed it impossible those who enved his place
differed with his judgmhnts failed of his favor
these and many more Joined in an attack such as
few men faced in the history of the earth. He
fought to inish that he might secure the pledge
of the nations to the ideal ofworld cooperation.
He won-won with the peoples Of the world, if
not with all of their governments They look to
him as the who drove that ideal so deep into
the soul of the nations that no man or men can
ever destroy it. 1t has become an asset of tor
mented humanity, possible way of slaughter, and
hate. Through all the future, men will be build.
ing upon it, adapting expanding, as men have
built on Washingtons work, on Lincos work
knowing that their efforts rest something essen
TALLY sound and secure.
They are simple people, remember, those thous.
and whose hearts he had enkndled. They are the
people who do the work of the world, and their
minds are cas- ly bewiIdered He has deceived
you" they were told. He has given you dreams.
Dreams rot for men. You live by realities, not
ideals Out with him! Down with himl As
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 bewildered But the
shouting over, they remembered their long days Of
eSaitati0n, of sacrifice of freedom and boldness,
of worthwhileness Was it only a deception?
Was all they had felt mere magic of words on
their unframed minds the stir of leeting passion
in their lives? Was there no sense, no reality in
it all?
asking in the past days. And slowly they are
turning to him who led them. His suffering face
and palsed side 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 well as
strength?
And go they seek him. He means something to
them; they don't quite know what. He is living
link with their noblest phase Those who destroy
ed 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
and cold before the theater to get even the
most fleeing glimpse something that will bid
them live again as they did in those great mo-
SC, llier's Weekly.