Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-13
WOODROW WILSON
BREAKS SILENCE
TO PLEAD IDEALS
America Is Urged to Face
Moral Obligations of Free
dom in ArmiStiCe Day
Speech by Radio

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11.-Wood-
row Wilson, addressing the Ameri-
can people directly tonight for the
| first time since he left the White
House, declared Americas attitude
after the World war was deeply
| ignoble, cowardly and dishonorable.'
France and Italy, Mr.. Wilson also
declared in a discussion of world 2f-
fairs, have made waste paper of
the treaty of Versailles"
The former president said the only
way in which the United States
could show it's true appreciation of
the significance OF Armistice day
was by resolving to put self-interest
away and to formulate and act upon
the highest ideals of international
policy.
Mr.. Wilson spoke exactly five
minutes into radio instrument at
his home here and his message was
broadcast TO every section Of the
country.
Sacrifices Made
The anniversary of "Arm!scice
day." he sad, should stir us to
great exaltation Of spirit because Of
the proud recollection that it was
our day, day above those early
days of that -to-be- forgotten No
vember which lifted the world to the
high levels of vision and achievement
Isupon which the great war for de.
mOcracy and right was fought and
won, although the stimulating mem
ores of that happy time of triu lph
are forever marred and embittered
for us by the shameful fact that
when the victory was WOn-WOn, be
it remembered, chiefly by the III o j.
table spirit and valiant sac lfices Of
our own inconQuerable older s-we
turned our backs upon our associates
and refused to bear any res onsible
part in the administration Of peace,
or the firm and permanent establish
ment of the results OF the war-Won
at so terrible a cost Of life and treas.
ure-and withdrew into a sullen and
selfish isolation which is deeply ig-
noble because manfestly cowaldiY
and dishonorable.
This must always be Il source Of
deep, modification 70 as, and we
shall inevitably be forced by The
| moral obligations OF freedom and
| honor to retrieve that fatal error
| and assume once more the role of
courage, sclf-respect and helpfuness
which every true American must
wish and believe TO be our true part
in the affairs of the world.
Determination Needed
THAT we should thus have d9ne
a great wrong TO civilization, and
at one of the most critical turning
points IN the history Of mankind is
the more to be deplored because ev-
cry anxious year that has followed
has made the more exceeding need
for such services as we might have
rendered more and more manifest and
more pressing, as demortliZlng cir.
cumStances which we might have
controlled have gone from bad to
worse until now. AS if to furnish
a sort of sinister climax, France and
Italy between them have made waste
paper of the treaty of Versailles,
and the whole fields Of international
relationships is in perilOus confusion.
1.-THE affairs of the world can be
set straight only by the firmest and
most determined exhibition of the
will to lead and make the right pre-.
vail.
Happily, the present situation OF
affairs in the world affords us an
opportunity to retrieve the past and
to render TO mankind the incOmpara-
bic service of proving that there is
at least one great powerful nation
which can put aside programs Of self
interest, and devote itself to practic-
ing and establishing the highest
ideals of disinterested service and
the constant maintenance of exalted
standards Of conscience and of right.
The only way in which we can
show our true appreciation of the
significance of Armistice day is by
resolving to put self-interest away,
and once more formulate and act
upon the highest ideals and purposes
of international policies. Thus, and
only thus, can we return to the true
traditions of America"