er
aim, which was to crush France in order to achieve the enslavement of
the world.

All the revelations are brought before the tribunal of history, where
corruption has no place, and as France and her allies, despite their
attachment to peace, have been obliged to endure war they will pursue
it to the uttermost.

Faithful to the signature which she attached to the treaty of Sept. 4,
1914, and by which she engaged her honor, that is to say, her life,
France, in accord with her allies, will not lay down her arms until
she has avenged outraged right and regained forever the provinces
which were torn from her by force, restored heroic Belgium to the
fullness of her material prosperity and political independence, and
broken Prussian militarism so that the Allies may eventually
reconstruct a regenerated Europe founded upon justice and right.

We are not inspired, gentlemen, in this plan of war and of peace by
any presumptuous hope, for we have the certainty of success. We owe
this certitude to our army of all ranks and to our sailors, who,
joined to the British Navy, secure for us the control of the seas, and
to the troops who have repulsed in Morocco incessant aggressions.

We owe it also to the soldiers who defend our flag in those far-off
French colonies, who from the very first outbreak of the war hastened
back with their tender solicitude for the mother country.

We owe it to our army, whose heroism has been guided by incomparable
leaders throughout the victory of the Marne, the victory of Flanders,
and in many fights, and we owe it to the nation, which has equaled
this heroism by a corresponding demonstration of silence and serenity
during the critical hours through which the country has passed.

Thus we have shown to the world that an organized democracy can serve
by its vigorous action the ideal of liberty and equality which
constitute its greatness. Thus we have shown to the world, to use the
words of our Commander in Chief, who is both a great soldier and a
noble citizen, that "the republic may well be proud of the army that
she has prepared." And thus, this impious war has brought out all the
virtues of our race, both those with which we were credited--of
initiative, elan, bravery, and fearlessness--and those which we were
not supposed to possess--endurance, patience, and stoicism.

Let us do honor to all these heroes. Glory to those who have fallen
before the victory, and to those also who through it will