Champ Clark's resolution of thanks to General John J. Pershing - September 18, 1919
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[page 1] CHAMP CLARK’S REMARKS PRESENTING RESOLUTION OF THANKS TO GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING September 18, 1919.
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[page 2] “Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front” and peace with healing in her wing like a gentle spirit now is brooding o’er a blood drenched and storm-rocked world. God be thanked. And you, General Pershing, were a master workman in this wondrous and blessed transformation -- a consummation so devoutly wished by all peoples, kindreds and tongues. For reasons which the world knows by heart, President Wilson recommended war. The Congress voted war. From all our able officers you wore selected as Commander of our Armies over-seas. The Administration, the Congress and the whole American people did everything within their power to hold up your hands and to furnish you and the brave men under you everything possible to comfort and cheer. Your countrymen and countrywomen watched your conduct with bated breath and with implicit faith.
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[page 3] While all the other nations changed commanders, we never did. Both you and the American people were constant as the Northern Star. I am happy in the belief that the typical American rises equal to any emergency in which he finds himself placed. A great opportunity came to you which you seized with resolute hand and unquailing spirit and wrote your name on the scanty list of the world’s great Captains. That your high career both satisfied and gratified the American people is amply attested by your splendid continent-wide welcome home - a welcome not from the lips only, but hot from the great, proud, pulsing heart of the mightiest nation in all the hoary registers of time. No welcome to any other of our fellow citizens returning to America from foreign strands is comparable to yours, except that to General Grant after his trip
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[page 4] around the world and that to Admiral Dewey after his victory at Manila Bay and that to President Wilson fresh from his arduous labors at Paris -- Grant, Dewey, Wilson, Pershing -- most assuredly a famous quartette of American worthies. Their deeds will be celebrated in story and chanted in song till the sun grows cold. What we say here will be little heeded, but the memory of what you and your gallant men did over there will be cherished forever as part of the previous treasures of the might Republic. You and your men did not fight to add to the area or wealth of our beloved country, but to uphold the principles of right and truth and justice. Our soldiers who died in the war did not die in vain, but to make men free. As long as the Republic endures -- which we all hope will be to the last syllable
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[page 5] of recorded time – their graves in France will be sacred shrines. “Their spirits wrap the dusky mountain, Their memories sparkle o’er the fountain; The meanest rill, the mightiest river Rolls mingling with their fame forever.”
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[page 6] General, you commanded more men than any other American soldier ever commanded – more, we hope, than any other American will ever command, for every sane and patriotic American most fervently hopes that our Country, so favored by Heaven in all that makes for true manhood and womanhood, will never be involved in another war. Your singular fortune has given you command of troops on three continents, America, Asia and Europe. In the World War your vest army not only carried America’s honor upon their bayonets, but complete victory for the Country and the cause for which they fought and for which thousands died and more thousands bled. By universal acclaim your conduct was superb and makes one hundred and ten millions of American proud to claim you as our countrymen. Of all your sotions the one for which we are most profoundly grateful and for which we love you best was that you strongly and triumphantly insisted that you and
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[page 7] your men would fight only as an American Army and not merely as replacement troops for British, French, Italians or Belgians. That feat was the sold test of your robust Americanism. It caused all our hearts to swell with ineffable pride and entitled you to our eternal gratitude. It has been said that “Duty” is the sublimest word in our vernacular. A most important duty – in very truth, an awful duty – was assigned to you and you discharged it so as to fill the world with your renown and to raise the fame of American valor to the highest point among the Nations of the World even unto the ends of the earth. Extraordinary military rank should be conferred only for extraordinary services in the field. In appreciation of your services, The Congress, voicing the sentiments of the American people, have conferred on you in perpetuity of the extraordinary rank of full General – the highest military honor within our power to bestow, and in honoring you we feel that we are honoring ourselves. Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Pershing – the only four permanent full Generals we have ever had. In addition to the permanent Generalship, The
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[page 8] Congress has tendered you individually and to your officers and men en masse the thanks of the American people and of the Congress of the United States - a rare honor in itself conferred in our entire history on only a very few of our distinguished citizens for extraordinary services to the Republic. A vote of thanks by name to a man confers upon him free access to the floor of the House and Senate - a priviledge which we hope you will frequently exercise to our delight. The resolution of thanks is in these words: “The thanks of the American people and of the Congress of the United States are due, and are hereby tendered, to Gen. John J. Pershing for his highly distinguished services as commander-in-chief of the American expeditionary forces in Europe, and to the officers and men under his command for their unwavering duty and valor throughout the war.” The chief reason why the Committee of Arrangements appointed me for this most pleasant function is the fact that you are not only a great American but also the foremost living Missourian than which there is no finer type of American while I happen to be the Dean of the Missouri delegation in Congress. I am proud and happy to present you as “Exhibit A,” showing for the world what sort
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[page 9] of men Missouri grows when in her most prodigal of moods - “Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog, In public duty and in private thinking.”
Details
| Title | Champ Clark's resolution of thanks to General John J. Pershing - September 18, 1919 |
| Creator | Clark, Champ |
| Source | Clark, Champ. Resolution of thanks to General John J. Pershing. 18 September 1919. Clark, Champ (1850-1921) and Bennett Champ (1890-1954), Papers, 1853-1973. C0666. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this speech transcript, Champ Clark thanked General John J. Pershing on behalf of Congress, and appointed him permanent generalship. Champ Clark, a long-time resident of Bowling Green, Missouri, was a politician in the Democratic Party. He served as a representative of Missouri from 1893 to 1895 and from 1897 to 1921. From 1911 to 1919 he served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. |
| Subject LCSH | Clark, Champ, 1850-1921; World War, 1914-1918--Political aspects--United States; Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924; Pershing, John J. (John Joseph), 1860-1948. |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | C0666 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | September 18, 1919 |
| Language | English |