Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-01-31
PRESIDENT URGES
MONROE DOCTRINE
FOR ENTIRE WORLD
Wilson Asks Peace League in
Address to Senate.
U. S. UNABLE TO HOLD AL00F
Declares America Must Change Its
Traditional Policy to Bring End
to Wars-Proposes Armed Or
eanization of Nations to
Guarantee Freedom.

Washington, Jan. 23.-President
Wilson, in a personal address to the
senate, laid down the question of
whether the United States shall depart
from its traditional policy of isolation,
and no entangling alliances. and take
part in world league to preserve
peace after the war.
Shattering precedent of more than a
century, the president, regarding the
senate with its treaty-making power as
his counsellor in foreign affairs, ex-
planned why he believed the time had
come for the world TO know Americas
position, and discussed the underlying
causes on which he believes a perma-
nent peace of the world can be main
tanned.
In closing the president said:
81 am proposing, as it were, that the
nations should with one accord adopt
the doctrine of President Monroe as
the doctrine of the world"
While President Wilson was speak
Ing directly TO the senator's, after the
manner of Washington, Madison and
Adams, his address was in the hands
of all foreign governments or on its
way to them.
In the background of the fundamen-
tai proposition of whether the United
States should alter its foreign policy,
laid down by Washington and carried
out by long line of presidents, was
the possibility that out of some such
league of nations might come way TO
end the present war.
For nearly half hour the president
spoke, with members of the senate,
members of the cabinet, and packed
galleries listening with rapt attention.
When he concluded there was a ire
mendous burst of applause in which
many of the Republican senators joined
the Democrats.
When the president had finished and
the senate returned to its regular bust
ness, Senator La Toilette epitOmized
the sentiment Of all present by say
Ing:
1--WE have Just passed through a very
important hour in the life of the
world"
Briefly, the president in his address
said that he believed no peace which
was peace of victory in the present
war would he permanent peace and
that 1t must be taken for granted that
peaceS"must be followed by some def
mite concert of power which will make
1t virtually impossible that any such
catastrophe should ever overwhelm us
again"
The Presidents Address.
The text of the presidents address
was in part as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate: On the
18th of December last | addressed al
identic note to the governments of the
nations now at war, requesting them
to state, more definitely than had yet
been stated by either group of bellig-
erents, the terms upon which they
would deem 1t possible to make peace.
l spoke on behalf of humanity and of
the rights of all neutral nations like
our own, many of whose most vital in
terests the war puts in constant
jeopardy.
1.-The central powers united in a re-
ply which stated merely that they were
ready to meet their antagonists in con-
ference TO discuss terms of peace.
1.-The entente powers have replied
much more definitely and have stated
In general terms indeed. but with suf-
ficient definiteness to imply details, the
arrangements, guarantees and acts of
PREPARATION which they deem to be the
indispensable conditions of a satisfac-
tory settlement.
1--WE are that much nearer a definite
discussion of the peace which shall
end the present war. We are that
much nearer the discussion of the in
ternational concert which must there
after hold the world at peace.
Must Prevent Future Wars.
''In every discussion of the peace
that must end this war 1t is taken for
granted that that peace must be given
by some definite concert of power.
which win make 1t virtually impos-
sible that any such catastrophe should
ever overwhelm US again. Every lover
of mankind, every sane and thoughtful
man must take that for granted.
81 have sought this opportunity to
address you because | thought that |
owed 1t to you, as the council asso-
ciated with me In the final determina-
ton of our international obligations, to
disclose to you, without reserve. the
thought and purpose that have been
taking form IN my mind in regard to
the duty or our government In these
days Of come. when it Will be neces-
sary to lay afresh. and upon a new
plan, the foundations of peace among
the nations.
People of United States Must Aid.
ut is inconceivable that the people
OF the United States should play no
part in that great enterprise. To take
part in such a service win be the OPP
portunity for which they have sought
to prepare themselves by the very prin-