The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-08-13

LAWNS LoOSc lalks
Senator James Hamilton Lewis, of
Illinois, in an address before the
North Carolina Bar association, pre-
dicted that Russia, Germany, japan
and China would some day be array
ed in arms against the United States
and suggested, as a means of warding
off the consequences of such a COM
bination against us, that we perfect
an alliance with the governments of
South America for the defense of the
hemisphere against foreign agrees
sion.
Senator Lewis prophecy is about
as valuable as most of the forecasts
of world alignments. 1t is easy to
get us such a war as Senator Lewis
predicts as any other,-in the mag
ination,-and no greater waste of
time. Senator Lewis is one of the
jewellers in the realm of PSYCHOLOGY
and rhetoric, and his visions, if not
convincing are at least picturesque.
But Senator Lewis is more impress
sive in his prophecy than in his rem
edy. Among all the republics of en-
trail and South America there are not
more than two or three with which
permanent, dependable arrangements
could be made. The procuring of
revolutions is profession in most of
these republics" and all any for
eign nation would have to do in order
to repudiate any treaty made with
the United States, would be to furn-
ish the money and the ammunition
to set up a rival government. And
If we had treaties of alliance with
all the republics" of all the Ameri-
cas-, the combination would be a
source of weakness rather than a
strength to us. II stable govern
ment is ever erected in Mexico, such
an arrangement with that republic.
protecting our southern border might
be desirable. But all the troops and
! all the ships that could be cOntribut-
ed to an international army by all
the Latin countries would amount to
little, while the responsibilities and
dangers we would take on by under
taking guardianship of the whole
coast line of two continents, south
of Canada would vastly outweigh any
advantage ACQUIRING from such CO.
operation. -
Senator Lewis repeats the bromide
phrases about South American sus-
| picion Of our movements. lest they
mean conquest, Sincere, Intelligent
suspicion of our designs In this
hemisphere does not exist, Our action
in Cuba ended that. 1t is a bugaboo
employed by Europeans and Spanish
American military adventurers to
arouse prejudice against the United
States. The, American people do not
want any more territory, particularly
terriotry populated by poems. In
Mexico, we have carried the attitude
of, non-interferepce TO, the point +. Of
standardization and =, the Latin
Americans, Enthusiastically enough.
have interpreted this. moi. as. copsidr,
GRAFTON. but as sign of weakness,
trained. as they have been to respect
only force. f.g n
\; The private, citizen g is licensed to-
say foolish things, If he feels inclin-
ed to do so. "A man occupying the
post of United States senator ought
to be careful. Senator Lewis talk is
as exuberant as his whiskers. Nearly
everybody understands it at home,
but, owing To, his Official position. his
remarks might be, pisinterpreted
abroad. Senator .Lewso processes, to
be,a supporter Of, the national admin
istration, He ought to observe Presi-
dent Wilson's INJUNCTION not TO rock
the fboat.-National Republican.