The Washington times., 1919-06-02
JOHNSON OPENS
FIGHT ON LEAGUE
CONTINUED from First Page


antee, maintain and preserve the
British Empires boundaries, with its
seething millions of disconnected peo-
pies; the increased territories Of
France; the vastly extended boun-
daries Of Italy, throbbing with revo-
luton, and the rape Of China by ia
pam" Senator Johnson asserted.
TT not only wrenches the Ameri-
can nation from its traditional policy.
deals with its economic resources,
embarks 1T upon a precarious and a
perilous departure, but commanders,
apparently for all time, its blood
and its bone" he continued. Neither
the President has shown US reasons
for a single article or clause Of the
league covenant, nor has anyone of
the Americans. presumably interested
in its composition, disclosed to the
American people anything at all in
respect to this document"
I'VE are compelled, therefore, from
the words OF the instrument itself.
often ambiguous and obscure, to de-
termine what this document, born in,
secrecy, denied opposition, and pre-
scented to US with a cynical indifer-
zee to our right of knowledge. may
mean. and what some Of its particular
provisions portend to the republic"
he said
Scores Propaganda.
Senator johnson charged that prop
uganda systematically disseminated
by the hectic hysteria of the League
of Nations men" had perhaps created
tremendous sentiment" in this
country in the leagues behalf by the
repetition OF the formula: Promote
peace and prevent war" He contend
I'D haF -
hor war have Historically en-
braced" the league covenant because
they found in their advocacy of it
that possibility Of expression" which
had been depressed by espionage
bills and by the mass consciousness
aroused in the nation in favor Of
war"
The awful tragedy OF the world,
the sorrow, the grief, and the anguish
Of those whose dear ones had made
supreme sacrifices; the fearful waste
and weller, of necessity turned the
thoughts Of all men and all women
to a prevention of another world
tragedy and cataclysm." Senator
Johnson added. ITO all these people,
and 1 number myself among them, the
idea Of a league, or confederation. or
union Of the nations Of the earth in
tion OF the weak against the strong.
TO preclude the successful elimination
of national cunning and cupidity, and
to prevent future conflicts Of Gods
creatures. possessed a charm and an
allurement, a hope and an inspira-
ton which we would have gone far
to realize and consummate.
The various phases OF our disillu-
sionment need not dwell upon. Each
milestone Of the peace conference sue.
cessfully marks them. The beautiful
phrases Of altruism and idealism were
found, as often has been the case in
the last few years, but mere words
They were never translated into deeds.
And, ultimately. with the presenta-
ton OF the league covenant. came the
OF all our fond hopes.
"RePrOach to PatriOtism.7
'tOf all the singular and astonish-
ing intellectual distortions induced by
the advocacy Of the league, not the
least remarkable is the reproach to
patriotism and the denunciation Of
those who think first OF our republic.
We who would protect and preserve
our nation. who Loyalty and patrioti-
cally would hesitate to involve its
sons and its future generations in per-
petual and continuous warfare. are
designated as little selfish and
provincial Americans, even men with
out international human sympathy
and bereft OF world vision.
There is yet another contributing
cause TO the present hysteria. We
have learned in the last two years !
q new thing in our national life-na- |
tional propaganda We have been |
picking our pockets to poison our |
minds. Millions upon millions Of dol !
lars we have spent from the public I
treasury and from taxation wrung !
rom an overburdened people to pub /
ish. not only in America, but through !
put the world, panegyrics Of those in /
power. Propaganda, paid for by the
people themselves. has been devoted /
% deceising the people and TO gIori-
'ying those who by the peoples grace
rave been raised to high position.
Upon the people themselves the clutch
las been maintained so that only that
which the Administration desired
spoken should be expressed. This,
IeadeninG and peWerted process has
lad its evil effects and has been one
Il the powerful agencies for nrGvent-
ng the people from knowing the facts
n the possibilities of the League OF
;ationE"
Senator Johnson declared that at
he peace conference Great Britain
was represented mot alone by the