Evening journal., 1919-11-01


ris repugnant TO the instincts Of liberty
planted deep In The breasts OF the cit
liens or this Republic. But. in addi-
tion 10 this, the President failed ut
terly TO interpret the document.
! This failure was due not to any lack
Of acumen on The part OF the Pres
ident but TO the fact that no interpre-
tatioh can explain away the astounding
clauses In the paper by which The SOW
ereigniy OF the United States Is TO be
surrendered to the world empire seated
at Geneva.
The document Is Intentionally couched
In the most ambiguous language. Were
its deadly purposes written in plain,
straightforward language so that the
common people could understand IL the
populace would at once rise up in re-
bellion against it. But It is subtle ana
deep and difficult TO fathom, and this
circumstance, together with its widely
heralded purpose TO prevent war, has
given its sponsors an audience with the
American people. But even this advan-
tsge did not avail-and the Presidents
trip was a failure.
On two or three occasions during his
trip President Wilson displayed some
irritation at the opposition TO his
League OF Nations. This was due very
likely to his III health. II that was the
cause Of his peeyishness IL will be gen
orally overlooked by everybody. The
President recognizes the gravity OF the
step we are taking, and when his mind
is serene IL must be that he desires a
full and frank expression OF opinion
from every citizen Of the republic.
Being unable In any degree TO answer
the glaring defects In the treaty, those
most vigorously urged against 1.-THE
surrender OF our sovereignty. the bar
ter Of Shantung, the betrayal OF Ire
land, the six votes Of England. the
terms OF Article X-lhe President con-
tented himself by dealing usually in ir-
relevant genefaiities. Occasionally, how
ever. in an unguarded moment, ho gave
voice TO utterances which in some de-
gree disclose the thoughts which were
uppermost in his mind while he sat
in Paris-and uppermost now.
Many patriotic citizens hold the opln-
ion that America needs no League of
Nations. and that IL should enter into
no alliance OF any character whatever
with the monarchs OF Europe and Asia.
They cling stubbornly, even in the face
OF rldlcue, TO Washlngtons Farewell
Address. The prophetic wisdom OF that
document, they believe, transcends the
invention OF any king or prime minis
ter or potentate OF Europe. or OF any
despot or intrlguer OF the Orient. They
resent the contention that the Farewell
Address has become stale. In the esti-
nation OF these men with old-fashioned
ideas the doctrine which Washington
proclaimed will never grow old. II is as
sound today they think, as It was the
day IL was uttered. 10 has been the
guiding star OF this republic for one
hundred and twenty-three years; the
fundamental principle Of our foreign
policy. As a basis OF Americanism n
has always ranked with the Declaration
Of independence and the Constitution OF
the United States. The greatest states
men Of the nation, OF every political
persuasion. have applauded and sane
toned ard reiterated IL.
But suddenly we were staggered by
The abrupt reputation OF the principle
pronounced In This great American
document,
In his very flrst speech, delivered at
Columbus, the President sald;-"This
treaty Is an attempt to right the his
tory OF Europe" Right tho history OF
Eur0pel Washington, Jefferson and
Monroe would have been APPALLED, iol
hear these words. These great Pres
idenls constantly advised US to keep
out OF Europe, out Of the wars OF Eu- |
H.tf nj
taxes OF Europe. Washington said:-
Europe has a set OF primary inter-
esls which to us have none or very !
remote relation. Why quit our
own 10 stand upon foreign ground
Why. by Interviewing our destiny with |
that Of any part Of Europe, entangle !
our peace and prosperity in the tolls
OF European ambition, rivalship, inter |
est. humor or capriceg
And we might ask today, as Wash /
inglon did more than a century ago.
why quit America TO stand on foreign /
soil2 Why is II that W. are attempt |
ing 10 %right the history OF Europeg"
or attempting TO NEEDLE with Europe2 /
or attempting TO Intervene our des-
tiny with Europe? The sponsors OF
The league will answer that conditions
have changed: that steam and cleo
tricity and cables and airships have
caused the wars OF Europe 10 be quick
ly reflected upon our shores. But they
were always reflected. and particularly
so In 1893 in The war between England
and France. only three years previous
10 the time when Washington wrote
his Farewell Address England al that
time ravaged our shipping on The At-
lantic Ocean. searched our vessels on
the high seas and stole American sail
ors from our merchant ships and forced
them into her own navy. And not only
that war, but all the wars Of Europe
Of any substantial consequence or OF
any considerable duration have affected
America. and affected her. nearly as
much. it would seem as IN Ute great
World War.
But ignoring the advice OF Washing
ton and ignoring the traditions OF
America, and dlsregarding the deadly
defects charged against the proposed
League OF Nations, defects in which the
American people are vitally concerned,
and slipping lightly over the surrender
Of Shantung and the sad fate OF ireland,
The President proceeded to tell the
citizens OF Columbus how he had drawn
the boundary line OF Europe-the lines
between the slavs and the Italians, be-
tween the AustrlSns and the Poles, be-
tween the Poles and the Germans, be-
tween Silesia and Austria. And this
ash Pa, planted a little seed. I