Evening star., 1943-03-14
Wilson Address Recalled

fIGSlQeub WUUulUW W1lSOll Cdlleu
for popular support of the labors of
the American Red Cross His speech
of May 18, 1918, especially deserves
reading now because of its appli-
cability to issues currently press
ing for consideration. There are
two duties with which we are face to
face" he declared. The first duty
is to win the war And the second
duty, that goes hand in hand with it,
is to win it greatly and worthily,
showing the real quality of our power
not only, but the real quality OF our
purpose and of ourselves"
Mr.. Wilson, sincerely anxious not
to be misunderstood, then specified:
The glory of this war, my fellow
citizens, so far as we are concerned,
is that it is, perhaps for the first time
in history, an unselfiSh war. I could
not be proud to fight for a selfish
purpose, but l can be proud to fight
for mankind" The United States,
he insisted, had made clear the terms
on which peace might be restored.
What they are" the enemy had been
told. The President repeated the
determination of America to emerge
from the conflict victorious. He then
continued: But behind all this grim
purpose, my friends, lies the oppor-
tunity to demonstrate not only by
force, which will be demonstrated to
the utmost, but the opportunity to
demonstrate character, and it is that
opportunity which we have most
conspicuously in the work of the Red
Cross. Not that our men in arms do
not represent our character, for they
do, and it Is character which those
who see and realize appreciate and
admire. but their duty is the duty of
force, The duty of the Red Cross is
the duty of mercy and succor and
friendship
His next thought was one which,
in only slightly different language,
might be adapted by Mr. Wilson'S
latest successor, Americas chosen
leader in the contest presently pro-
ceeding: Have you formed picture
in your imaginations of what this
war is doing for us and for the
world? In my own mind, am con-
vinced that not hundred years of
peace could have knitted this Nation
together as this single year of war
has knitted it together, and, better
even than that, if possible, it is knit
ting the world together. Look at the
picture. In the center of the scene
four nations engaged against the
world, and at every point of vantage,
showing that they are seeking selfish
ggrandisement, and against them
twenty-three governments represent
ing the greater part of the popula-
ton of the world, drawn together in
new sense of community of interest,
a new sense of community of pur-
pose, new sense of community of
life"
The Red Cross, President Wilson
argued, symbolized the element of
friendship (WHICH is the only ce-
ment that will ever hold the world
together" Giving to the great in
ternational organization which is
recognized not only by the statutes
of each of the civilized govern
ments - = but 80 by international
agreement and treaty." the indi-
vidual, he affirmed contributed to
the end that "the world may be a
filter place to live in, that men may
be succored, that homes may be re-
stored, that suffering may be re-
lieved, that the face of the earth may
have the blight of destruction taken
away from it, and that wherever
force goes there shall go mercy and
helpfulness"
1t may seem incredible, yet it Is
| true that the active aid for which
Mr.. Wilson pleaded in 1918 is needed
/ trebly now. The Red Cross drive of
! l943 seeks funds for larger and
more expensive task than that of
quarter century ago. The ideal has
not changed, but the size of the
problem has altered and the oppor-
tunity for cooperation has grown.