The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-12-12

ever made on the floor of the United
States senate was the speech by
Senator James A. Reed, or Missouri,
in opposition to President Wilson's
plan Tor a league Of nations.
After referring TO the fact that this
country for 14z years had kept out
OF European entauglements and had
lived under the teaching of George
Washington that foreign entangle-
ments were 10 be avoided, Senator
Reed said in part.
"Our population has increased from
100000 to 104,000,000 people. We
have gathered in our laps more of
wealth than there is in all the rest
of the world. We have glorified our
land with magical cities. We have
covered the once barren prairies with
habitations of civilization. From
countless chimneys ascends the
smoke that marks the family affairs
at which husband. wife and child bow
to the God of freedom and bless the
memory OF George Washington. Our
hills are crowned with churches and
school houses, twin products Of civiIi-
cation, the glory of humanity. We
have become the foremost nation in
the world, not only in wealth but in
man power, in education. in intelH-
gence.
U. s. Saved Civilization.
$50 great have we become that
when the Teutonfc powers were in
the very act OF conquering Europe we
were able to rescue it from destruc-
ton. Standing In position of splen-
did isolation, we stepped into the
breach and saved civilization.
'.At time like this, when a peace
is about TO be declared, a peace that
is the most glorious of all history. a
peace that was made possible by the
valor and power of this country, it
is proposed that we shall abandon our
ancient and traditional policy and
shall become entangled in every broil
OF Europe as these broils may now
or as they may hereafter exist. 1t is
the most monstrous doctrine ever
proposed In this republic. The sane
tity Of no great name can render 1t
holy The opinion of no man can
make it safe.
What are the two concrete propo-
sitions? One is that an international
court shall be established 70 which
shall be submitted the controversies
of all nations. The other is that there
shall be a league or compact between
certain nations by which they bind
themselves to enforce the terms and
conditions of their agreements upon
each other and upon other nations.
Court Must Have Power.
LET us examine the first of these
propcsitions-the international court.
First. | remark that no international
court and no court of any kind can
possibly be effective unless it is pos
sessed OF constabulary sufficient to
enforce it's DEGREES.
THE mere emission Of Judgment
by court without any power to en-
force the judgment leaves the court
a thing for laughter and jeers. In
plain language, an international court
to be effective must be backed by an
.internationa larmy.
who Is to command this proposed
international army? Will it be an
American? VIII it be Japanese, or,
in the mutations OF time. will it be
a German, or will it perchance be an
Englishman? Somebody must COM
Ynand this army. Who shall it be?
Certainly the command will not be
vested in cur citizens for all time.
Surely no one can claim that the
United States will always have a
friend in command of the interna-
tional army.
Shall we submit the destiny OF
this republic to ephemeral govern
ments that usually are created by the
bloody hands of political assassins
and which are frequently more in
famous than were the despotisms by
such means overthrown? Does any
man dare submit the interests of this
republic to tribunal so constituted?
Powers Absorbed Africa
"It is well known that prior to
the war England. France and Ger
many were busily engaged in extend
ing their foreign territory for the
purpose of extending their foreign
trade In a few years time they alb
of Africa It is also known that they
looked with ambitious and greedy
eyes toward South America; at least, |
Germany did, and we have some !
reason to suspect that England not
many years ago had like ambitions
Who will fail to remember that
Grover Cleveland was obliged to al
most threaten England with war IN
the matter of Venezuela? Assume, Z
now, that we shall employ this I
mighty fleet which we are construct /
ing to absorb the trade of South /
Americans we should--and that we i
shall begin to gain the business of (
that continent; assume that under
some controversy which may arise
Iater-a just controversy to begin
with or controversy created for the
purpose-Germany, having been re-
habiIitated, were to undertake to es-
tablish herself in some South Amert-
can country and were to propose to
open that country to the trade of I
European countries on advantageous
terms. what would be our chance be- /
fore court the majority of whose
members represented the countries
Interested in getting that trade? You
say my illustration is impossible: I \
~