Gadsden County Times

Some Errors Corrected in 1918

The present war probably lacks a great deal from being over but on the 25th anniversary of the Armistice of 1918 it is a comforting thought that already some of the mistakes of 1918 have been corrected and the end of this war promises a great deal more toward a peace that will last longer than the last one.

Representatives of the people in this nation have not waited for the end of the war to pledge themselves to participation in a "general international organization, based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all peace-loving states . . . for the maintenance of international peace and security."

The Armistice of 1918 proved to be only an armistice--a halt to hostilities - until Germany could reorganize her strength and prepare to take up the fight again. It proved to be that partly because the Senate of the United States chose the policy of neutrality and isolation. In effect we gave our approval to Germany's plan for further aggression and made ourselves liable to another more terrible war. The price for the lesson has been great and will be still greater.

Upon every observance of Armistice Day for 23 years we talked about never letting it happen again and then in December, 1941, it happened. This time the United States must be very sure. The men who are fighting and winning this war are making a pledge to their children that it will not happen to them. They are backing up that pledge with their lives. The statesmen of this nation will make a miserable failure if they don't make that pledge good at the peace conference.