The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-03

HHu 1dHdud. III Ill ISSUE uelleb HeSoIld
tion, everyone looks to peaceful settle
ment. This is because it has been tried
so often and because we have grown used
to winning and losing A willingness to
arbitrate only when one is sure of win.
ming is not the spirit which makes arbi'
tration useful means of settling dis.
putes. That is the trouble with many
who oppose agreements to arbitrate a
class of questions hereafter to arise. To
make arbitration useful the state OF
mind of nations in regard to arbitration
should be that of the strict and orthodox
Puritans that one must be willing to be
damned if he would be saved. Practice
in arbitrations produces this state of
mind and this confidence in the method.
The league enforces this practice, the
educational effect of which upon nations
in showing the possibility of such peace
full settlement of disputes will be invalu-
able. The procedure will become as of
course and the habit of such settlements
will be formed.
But the pacifists ask why use force
at all Why is not a general agreement
by all the world to arbitrate enough
The belligerent nations will not regard
mere promises an adequate guaranty.
They will insist on adding as sanction
the fear of international police. Every
domestic community. however law -abid-
ing its citizens, provides police force
to suppress disturbers Of the peace.
Many people would never create disturb
ances. but others would do so, unless
they knew that police representing the
full power of all for the common good
would restrain them. I don't see how
any pacifst who believes in a police
force in domestic community can OBJ
iect to the application OF the same prin-
ciple in community of nations. Nations
are not more moral or peaceable than
the average citizen and the necessity for
restraint of them to avoid war certainly
is not less.
"A second reason why the agreement
to contribute TO an international police
force is a great improvement over mere
general treaty to srbitrate all differences
between all nations is that where no
force is behind a treaty as a sanction, no
one is especially interested in the per-
Torrance of the treaty except the two
Nations WHO nave a. ulUeFenCe.
objection is made that the United
States in joining such league will VIC
late the advice and example of Wash
ington and Jefferson as to entangling al
Iiances. Neither had conception of the
plan OF world league or of the present
conditions making it wise and necessary.
agree that the league win be change
Of policy heretofore maintained by us,
but it will be a change by enlargement
and growth to meet new exigencies, and
not departure in principle.
"The league, instead of being an aban- |
lonment of the Monroe doctrine, will aid |
n its maintenance because violations of |
he Monroe doctrine beginning with
threatened hostilities by a European or !
Asiatic power against one of the Amer |
can republics would be halted by the |
eague with an examination of the |
'round of quarrel by court or commits
ion.
1.-The success of the Monroe doctrine |
or now 90 years without our firing a
hot shows the effect of threat of force
lpon the conduct of the world without
he necessity for its exercise. The great
International police would afford for the
of its policies far greater
auction.
"Then 1t is said that the league is I'M
in that it will turn over
o council of representatives Of all the
7orld the power to plunge us into war,
'hereas the constitution vests Congress
lone with the power to declare This is
miseonception. We enter into the
reaty through the treaty aking power
{ the president and the Senate The
reaty binds us in certain event to con-
ribute our share to a world police force
nd thus help to restrain or suppress the
eginning of war in violation of the
srms of the league. Our nation must
erform this obligation in the way en-
,ined by the constitution" G
The president of the United States re- II
sntly made most notable speech to the Ii
enate on the subject of the war and the
taking of peace and the guarantees of Q
eace after the war; and the question I
rises what shall be the attitude of the
ague in respect to his declarations. The h
ague has consistently refused TO take
nv part in movements looking to the n
iding of the war, not because its mem q
srs were not interested in the bringing !,
that struggle TO an end, but because
ley believed it was the wisest course, in =
der to accomplish its ultimate purpose, :
1T to have to do with the issues neces- a
rily involved in discussing peace. They \
1t that they might secure support for
eir project from many who differed as
the character of the peace TO be made.
'The league does, however, command
the highest degree the advanced and +