The sun., 1918-12-29

n q galleyF
~.
The practical and immediate consid-
Grafton Is that whatever scheme for
a League Of Nations now abides in
the inner chambers Of the Presidents
midland his speech yesterday to
the British League Of Nations Union
added not a particle to public knowl-
edge Of his thoughts or intentions-a
persistent attempt to embody Il In the
treaties OF peace would surely post
pone the conclusion and proclamation
of peace for an indefinite period. It
might be for months, It might be for
years, It might ever be till the Greek
kalends.
That in itself affords suficient Jus
tincation for the attitude Of those
leaders in the United States Senate
the body which must finally accept or
reject the League Of Peace submitted
to the Senate by President WILSON
after no has made It something more
than the mere phrase It now is In his
outgivings-those Senators who with
Mr.. LODGE and Mr.. KNOX insist that
the project shall come to them on Its
merits and not be forced upon them
as a rider to the treaties OF peace.
But any such proposal to bind this
nation by contract to an indefinite
future OF ENHANCEMENT in European
politics, OF armed Intervention in for
eign affairs not Immediately concern
Ing us, must inevitably suggest rea-
sons for extreme caution: reasons
broader and deeper than those Of leg
islative convenience.
Can any American who loves his
SouhuS aoo'o I'LL tne reot OF ue
world forget that there are other
ideals than those Of world service, Of
international socialism, OF universal
brotherhood and Of primary allegi-
ance TO common humanity?
Greater even than the Monroe Doc
trine Is the Washington Doctrine, i'm
pressively formulated in his last mes
sage OF counsel to the American peo-
pie, reaflrmed IN the clear and con-
else p~hraseology OF JEFFERSON and in
the ringing periods Of DANIEL WEB
STEERS Incompatible eloquence: why
quit III W to stand upon foreign
ground? Why, by Intervening our
destiny with that Of any part OF Eu-
rope, entangle III peace and pros
perity in the tolls OF European amb,-
ton. rivalshlp, interest, honor or Gu
price? II Is our true policy to steer
clear Of permanent alliances with any
portion Of the foreign world"
A hundred and twenty-five years
later we nj see not only that this Is
the true policy OF the United States
from every point OF view OF national
common sense, but also that It is the
very quintessence Of the American
spirit the traditional principle which
has made the great western republic
what = Is today.
During this century and a quarter
Of consistent adherence to the policy
Of staying at home and mlnding our
own affairs. going afeld IN armor
only on proper occasions pertinent 10
our own national interests or honor,
u population has increased from
less than million to more than
one hundred millions. Our national
wealth has grown from probably less
than a billion at the beginning Of tho
last century to seven billions in that
centuy's middle year and to nearly
100 billions at the beginning Of this
war, and probably. according 20 the
estimate Of impartial foreign author.
ity, TO $50 billions at the present
time. Never in the history Of civi-
lied progress has there been a com.
parable example of prosperous growth /
self-produced and infowing.
And commensurate with this mira
Gle of material progress is the incre-
ment Of moral power that has at
tended the steady pursuance Of the
Washingtonian policy. The United
States, by its independent position In
the family Of nations, its ~aloofness
on principle from the lntrigues, the
r!valrles and the tolls of European
ambitions, while drawing to itself n
~stupendous part Of the mobile wealth
Of the world, has also been the for