Repository: UIHistories Project: Commencement - 1927 [PAGE 3]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

THK U N I T E D STATES AMONG T H E NATIONS

T

we engaged in a war for causes which we thought were great but to some minds were selfish. Some people regarded the World War as a struggle among the nations of Europe merely for more territory and wealth. Some hold to the opinion that our entry into the war was due to self interest only. In short, the issues leading to the war were, in the minds of some people, narrow, sellish, or special interests, and not any broad, general principles. Such differences of opinion as to the causes of every war are traceable in the minds of historical writers and critics according to their personality, their nationality, their prejudices, and their moral standards. In the minds of some people the struggle between King John and the English barons was a mere local struggle for power while to others it was a contest for the great principles of Magna Chart a. T o the minds of some, the struggle between the king of France and the States General in 1789 was mereh a contest for power. Yet it, too, produced far-reaching consequences and great principles of government. With reference to the World War, about which similar differences developed, my beloved and honored predecessor, President James, who discussed this subject some nine years ago, remarked:

EN YEARS AGO

v

'\Vith one noble and sweeping gesture President Wilson wiped Out all the « items on the slate of world division and organization • 1 c 1 wrote down as our goal the safeguarding ol h u m a n libeitx 1

throughout the earth: to all people—not merely to ourselves—to the sn II well as to the great to the weak as to the strong—the

l88Uran that the\' may older their own lives as freemen."

And

"The gi it thin which President Wilson has done is to make

uun this pn m of his the p r o g r a m of the United State . the po of th Allies—nay, tie- pi«<:-iam ol (he world."

I 3 1