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Show HIGH PRAISE j PARIS, Dec. 16. In addressing President Pres-ident Wilson today, the spokesman of tho municipal council, Mr. Mlthouard, said: "Mr. President: You who were" known yesterday to us only by your letter and written imago today lives over with us again in poignant history of America's decision as it was unfolded un-folded in your conscience bofore the eyes of the world. "Profoundly moved by the magnificent magnifi-cent generosity with which your compatriots com-patriots had set themselves to relieve our sufferings, with what anxious yet confident expectation did we follow tho progress of your thought and of your feelings! "Beneath tho deliberately measured tone of your notes and messages we felt little tho mounting of a righteous anger. What then was our dazzled admiration when thero burst upon us tho message of April 2, 1917, which gave to the questionings of the American Ameri-can consolencc thoir supremo conclusion conclu-sion and In Pascal's words, brought together to-gether Justice and force to decide for long centuries the fate of all humanity! human-ity! "We aro proud, Mr. President, to offer of-fer you welcome in the name of this capital. "Take then,. Mr. President, the sincere sin-cere good wishes of our city, yostorday under the monaco of the 'Berthas' and Gothas. a citadel of the ' liberties of the .world but today open to all noblo and generous ideas and enthusiastically enthusiastical-ly acclaiming in the great citizen she I has the honor to receive, the embodiment embodi-ment to a now ideal which comes to iher. "How many things seemed to hold you apart from the dreadful conflict! Your Intellectual training as lawyer, historian and thinker; your peacpful life of study in which, to use your own phrase, you had known no other laboratory labo-ratory than the world of books, tho traditions tra-ditions of the country which had elected elect-ed you to guide and direct it; the admirable ad-mirable farewell message of Washington Washing-ton warning his successors iu power against any conflicts as might broak. out again in Europe, "Well might -Germany bollovo that you would regain tho prisoner of throe uoble formulae. But hor taxless militarism, mili-tarism, multiplying its crlmoB against the rights of man, -was to force the nation na-tion pro-ominently pacifist to draw the sword from the scabbard. "Doubling the blowfl of his arrogan-ant arrogan-ant sword upon the rock of your patience, pa-tience, the barbarian called for the devouring de-vouring flamo in which he has been irredeemable ir-redeemable consumed. "When the measure of black doeds ran full you sounded tho call to arms. And by the mlrafcia of your burning speech, by the ascendancy of your Indignant In-dignant conscience and your sovereign philosophv you drew ono hundred millions mil-lions of men to devote themselves, soul and body, to the triumph of liberty ovor tyranny and of Justice over error and iniquity. "Today wo taste tho deep Joy of saluting sa-luting in the person of President Wilson Wil-son the nation whoso valiant arms have contributed so brilliantly to the most magnificent of victories. "Paris fnols for herself drawn irro-siatlbly irro-siatlbly toward you and your convictions. convic-tions. "Ah a cantor of Intellectual life she -Mlm'ras in you the cage and the thinker think-er whoBe works havo enriched the liuman spirit. As a hearts of ardent patriotism she expresses her deep j ljl gratitude to the great friend of , M France. As the historic bulwark of j l 1 liberty and justice, she acclaims, in ! JmI you the disinterested servitor of these j fell great moral ideas, tho eloquent and in flexible apostle of the rights of hu inanity." I J |