The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-11
ARMISTICE DAY


 Birmingham today celebrates another anniversary of the Armistice. The feel ing of jubilation over the tidings of peace has at times been submerged under the hurry and hustle of our mounting pros perity and industrial activity. The joy over peace was first dulled by the appre- hension lest there be no amicable settle ment of after-war disputes, and this is the first Armistice Day anniversary that we have been able to enjoy with the feel ing deep down in our hearts that peace has really descended upon the earth. Now the prospect for worldwide amity, per haps of lasting duration, is very bright.
 Whatever may have been the material causes plunging us into war it was very clear to us from the beginning that the goal of our efforts was not mere victory, but permanent peace. Woodrow Wilson heartened this nation on to intense effort and concentrated endeavor by that glo- rfous thought. Woodrow Wilson was sincere, and his sincerity is abundantly attested by his deliberate sacrifice of all his health and prestige in order to keep his pledge to the American people and to the world. His pledge is being kept to the world, but not by America, except in- directly through the efforts of certain distinguished and able American citizens.
 Yet what Woodrow Wilson str'ove nightly to realize is exactly what the American people most intensely desire, namely, cessation from war and relief from the burden of competitive arma- ments. Today we see the League of Ma tions, supported by more than eighty per cent. of the nations, going resolutely and Iintelligently about it's task of reconciling international differences and removing age-old causes of friction. There need be no criticism of the fact that the league has not done in five years what the whole world has been unable to accomplish in fifty centuries. There should be recog- milton and appreciation of the fact that the league is making headway towards the permanent peace ideal. The league will make mistakes, but they can be cor rected. The league will achieve valuable results, and they should be fostered.
 The veterans, who march in the streets of Birmingham and of other cities of America and of the world today, may well congratulate themselves that they are the heroes, not only of the greatest war that was ever fought, but also of the greatest peace that was ever established. The children, youth and citizens who march with them and who line the side walks may we'll thrill with the thought that to them has been passed standard that need never be iowered-the standard of perpetual settlement of international troubles without resort to war. In war, success depends upon the soldiers, but in peace the maintenance of peace depends upon the citizens. The work of the vet erans has been we'll performed and they have brought home to us the most price less guerdon ever snatched from battle. We who form the citizenship of today and tomorrow and the long future have it as our commission to preserve that guerdon world peace-to coming generations, leaving them the heritage intact.
 The people of Birmingham are grate- full to the veterans for the achievement they have wrought. And whether the peoples gratitude is visible or not, the veterans have the high satisfaction of knowing that all the people are partaking of the blessings of peace and of victory which our overseas army has bestowed. That thought is a reward which public selfishness can neither take away nor withhold. Today, Birmingham salutes the veterans and freely acknowledges the glory and the everlasting endowment they have bestowed upon the American people.
 UrVrTS TI TEAnEDCuID