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Show OUR WORD GOOD. While the good faith of Germany ia doubted and an army of occupation has been Bent into her territory to see to it that the armistice conditions are fulfilled, ful-filled, the word of tho United States passes current everywhere in the world. Tho German chancellor called treaties scraps of paper. We hold them inviolate. invio-late. Hence, the people of other countries coun-tries have confidence in our integrity, while neither the word nor the bond of Germany is held to be any good. A somewhat remarkable incident occurred in tho French chamber of deputies the other day. One of the members, a doubting Thomas, attacked the ministry on a number of grounds, one of his charges being that the ministry of marine had not socured signatures to agreements with America, Andre Tar-dieu Tar-dieu was heartily applauded when he replied that: "There is no need for signatures sig-natures in order to secure the execution of America's promises, since America has sent an army of 2,000,000 men to France." Of course, it is customary to obtain signatures to all such agreements, agree-ments, and1 representatives of the United States government do not become be-come indignant when required to make contracts in black and white. They do the same thing with tho representatives of all other nations and ordinary business busi-ness rules are followed. It is pleasant, however, to hear a Frenchman of repute declare in the chamber of deputies that signatures ere not necessary to secure the execution of agreements with the United States. Such a reputation is worth while, and we hope the honesty of our government will never be questioned ques-tioned anywhere in the world. If the word of Germany had been good she would still hold her place among the leading nations instead of lying prostrate pros-trate in the dust. |