The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-02-07
,or,RIsys PAY TRIBUTE TO EX-
~ PRESIDENT WILSON
,cont;rued from Page one)

XPrlll iBAAip-.'
In and personally initiated much OF
[,o war legislation, and gave himself
Z.ho,lv TO making those measures eff
tive The exegeneies of the case,
koye him the support of the leaders
y The nation as well as the rank and
r. nf o1r citizenship. There was no
e. 70 be lost in delay, no time for
blended discussion, no disposition
f. obstruction. The Nation sup
Snrted him in his policies. and with
noo 900 of her choicest sons on Eu-
tonean soil. and 100000 more in re-
Eorve hacked up by self sacrificing
Ln;ted people, the humiliation and
kownfall of Germany and her allies
I,as speedy and complete and Wood
Zow Wilson had made his name i'm
hortal.
gar he it from humble me to Judge
L. the wisdom or unwisdom of his
Living our National Capitol to per-
konally participate in the peace con-
srence deliberations, but again he
Yoke all Presidential precedences and
rossed the sea.
"Tbe greatest honors ever bestowed
non an American were lavished upon
Inn by the crowned heads and gov
rnment leaders. In England, France.
Rslgium ad Italy he was received
Inh the greatest enthusiasm and
howered with gifts and honors. The
Iomage of grateful world was laid
his feet and he was proclaimed
Iyprywhere as the saviour of the
orld's liberties. The statesmen of
urope were charmed by his oratory,
i wit and personality, but when at
10 council table they found his indo-
raable will set as Gibralta on what
thought to be right, there was
rife and discord. He insisted in
aying the League of Nations Coven-
nj and the peace treaty so interwoV-
that nation could not adopt one
ithout subscribing to the other. He
ommitted the United States to this
olicv, but it failed of ratification in
he senate and seemingly was repudi-
led by vast majority of the coun-
rvs voters in the next national cleo
nm. Broken in health he retired to
riyate life idolized by his friends and
scredited by his political opponents.
ablic opinion today, places upon his
hitened head the crown of martyr
bm for his high ideals, his indefati-
hble tolls for the public welfare, the
Fucifxion of his cherished plans for
Orld's peace and Christian broth
hood of men. How Characteristic
the man and how true in reality
ere the last murmured statements
this great man Friday last to his
ktending physician, Dr. Grayson,
fbe old machine has broken down.
ou have done your best for me. But
better that should go than to live
a helpless invalid. Tell Mrs.
Rilson want her I'm ready
at is impossible for any man to I'M
Artially be judged and the correct
timate placed upon his character
bd achievements by his own gener-
ion 1t stands too near the man to
Il the right perspective. Men are
inded by their own prejudices and
rsonal fancies. Partnership and
e strife of political battle warp
ems Judgment. Friendship and
prty loyalty overlook many faults
BID cover multitude of sins. Mole
lis are magnified into mountains.
olives are questioned and misjudged
opponents. 1t takes time and
e sequence Of events to reveal the
isdom or unwisdom of political
easures, and correctly measure their
fuence on the Nations welfare. It
as so with our beloved Lincoln. No
an was more misunderstood, nor
ore bitterly maligned, nor more
aliciously abused during the dark
bys of the Rebellion than the same
ncoln whom today is a Nations
oil and known and revered through
ht the civilized world. Time alone
ill put the right estimate upon the
ersonality and achievements of the
an we today mourn and try in our
lmble capacity to honor in this brief
dress
Whatever may be the final out
Pine of those state and International
pices for which he lived. fought
pd actually died, no voice can be
Used to question the honesty of his
hrpose or the sincerity of his efforts
make those principles potent in
essing a world crushed and bleed
3 through the barbaric methods of
odern slaughter of human life and
ppiness on land and sea and in hea-
PMS blue sky above.
Some men, even in the North, re-
iced when the bullet of the assassin
ID Abraham Lincoln low in the dust,
D | doubt If under the stars and
Pipes anywhere today can be found
individual so warped in judgment,
shriyeled in soul, so depraved in
nature that he is even Indifferent
the passing of this great man, let
one being exultant that the Grim
PAPER has at last conquered that in
mltable will, put seal upon and
lied those eloquent lips and stilled
throbbing of his noble, Godlov-
man-loving, heart Rather, rev.
emily and resignedly with the af-
cted widow, all America and the
Prld in a universal sorrow can ten
ry trustingly declare, 1T is for the
ST. He is rid of his pain and
puble. am glad he went away
acefully.
hr. Nichols then addressed the
fmbers of the Rotary Club particu-
iy, mentioning briefly salient
dracterisficc of Mr. Wilson which