Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-29
CAN AMERICA LAWFULLY
JOIN A LEAGUE
BY George A. Talley.

The move is now to secure proper
peace which will SO reduce the power OF
Germany that she cannot make war for
ages upon ages. SubJugatio and an
nexation of her territory would be the
extremity of conquest. If this is not exact
ed, her strength should be reduced 10y
dividing her domain into small States sc
there would be no power for evil.
The world distrists Germany and any
large nation she may form. Her strength
and not her weakness creates alarm. If her
strength is the danger, horse-sense teaches
Ills TO shear her of power by division of her
domain. 1t is ridiculous to fear her and
leave her full power and depend upon n
treaty fence for protection. II strong she
may break down the inclosre
America and the Allies, fearing Ger
msny, seek league To prevent war
What kind of a league? Is it to be tho
destruction of all nationality and 10 in
stall one control as broad rs the world?
II nations arc TO exist and 90 INTO fast
bound contract as TO how they are to
conduct themselves, how much sovereign
tv will they give up and how much will
they retain2
We have for wears held that there should
be a court to adjudgc national quarrcls
and distinctly So stated IN 1916, IN our
book on Panama Canal Tolls and
Treaties" 1t is not new idea invented hv
our President Neither he nor ourselves
nor Mr. Taft has been able to formulate 4
plan that can he placed into operation,
War should be stopped without any
question of Doubt II is He'll upon earth.
: but what effective thing can be done to
prevent It? The plans should be formed.
but it is a work too large for any one man.
ar for even a peace council at Versailles,
'Fhere are momentous interests involved
and IL staggcrS the Imagination that u
should be 81 gliblv proclaimed by officials
and statesmen.
No matter what other nations NAV do.
It would seem that no large scheme of
league control could bind Amcric; except
tho people. tho source Of all governments
power, were called into the proceedings
The constitution gives the power Of
treaty-making ta the executive and the
Senate, but the making of what kind Of
trcatiesP lhc answer must be treating
within the POWERS gwen 10 the govern
ment by the people There never has been
a power given 20 the officials 10 destroy
the nation or to confer its sovereignty on
any foreign authority America, under its
higher law. must bc ruled by its own cti-
SfIt~ tE W. iIlip 'iiSSAlIilttNtA II WIZ TtthitN
IN the Civil War that no officials or frac-
ton of the people could destroy the ma
ton The unusual treaties of trade and
rights Of travel IN foreign lands may be
made under the constitution. But to 60
into a league of nations Is not str1ctlv y
treaty matter 1t is the creation OF govern
fuent under new constitutional obligs-
tions, not IN harmony with the powers
granted by the people 10 the nation The
sovereign Of our na,i N must have free
course and unreasoncd Nv any foreign
league hy whafever inst strumentalty IL
NAV be created The people hsvc never
conferred power on any officials 10 Joan IN
a '1eague" Of nations.
This is clear from the structure Of our
government: All executiv power Is IN the
President; all legislative power IS IN
Congress; and All judicial power IS in the
courts How can any or all Of these he
transferred 10 foreign power
II might be claimed that m actual Wal
and under temporary necessity that the
American Army might subject itself 10 a
foreign general, but still, this Is by no
means clear proposition. But league Of
nations is not for temporary purpose,
but extended world-government. which
could not be temporary. AmencsnS must
seriously consider where they ar going,
before launching into such faT-reach-
ing and dangerous undertaking
George A Tallcv
Marcus Hook, Nov. 2s, 1918.