The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-12-05
THE DEADLOCK IN THE SEN
ATE

THE DEADLOCK IN THE SEN
ATE
After many unsuccessful efforts the
senate adjourned without ratifying the
peace treaty. To many this seems a
disaster Some say. the United States
has lost the respect of other nations
and a chance for world leadership
Other far seeing minds think the OPP
posite and believe that the deadlock
in the senate was a fortunate DISPOSE
ton of the treaty, for the time being
at least.
Both friends and foes of the treaty
eoncede there are things in the treaty
which were unsatisfactory because of
the uncertainty, unfairness and in
justice not only to ourselves but to
other nations. Had we ratified the
treaty as presented the United States
would have gone on record as being
unfair and unjust to smaller and less
powerful nations. AT the time the war
ended we had the confidence of all
nations big and small and fortunately
were we supposed to be the friend OF
democracy and small nations but our
actions at the peace convention did
not come up to our reputation. We
failed to champion the cause of small
nations, We joined the gang of big ma
tons. we traded with imperiaiists to
the disadvantage of the advocates OF
democracy, we meddled in the domes
TIC affairs of other nations, our dele
gates undertook to obligate us to rati-
~ great injustice to democratic
China which other nations had agreed
to In turning q portion of the Shan
tung Peninsula to imperialistic Japan
and particularly had we violated most
of the principles embodied in the fam
Gus fourteen points. Our president
had been received ON his arrival in
France as the representative of the
most trusted nation In the world. but
our delegates did not prove them
selves worthy of the trust and the
president returned without the con-
fIdence OF most nations and hated by
many. The proposed League of Ma
tons he brought back was league of
five big nations, the winners of a |
world war whose position enabled
them to dictate to the whole world.
There was nothing in the League to
guarantee to small nations that their
rights would be protected. There was
no international court of justice pro-
vided before which all nations of the |
world could come with assurance thew
would receive fair treatment.
1t was necessary TO say TO other
nations, mo man, not even our presi-
dent can assume to misrepresent Us |
before the world; the principles and
ideals OF America are founded upon
justice and fair dealing and the peo-l
pie VIII not ratify any trsaty not |
founded upon those principles" The
action OF the senate has so advised our
allies and likewise our enemies. The |
outcome will be that We will regain |
our self respect and the confidence of
all nations both big and small. II is |
not step backwards but only recoy-
ering step we were about to lose.
No one can say that the United States
has ever IN the past failed to do her
iulI duty for the cause of humanity. |
We may have blundered in the begin |
ming but IN the end the full force of
America has always been thrown on
the side OF justice and fairness, and so |
IN tne present case as soon as the |
proposed treaty is made to conform |
to our ideals the American people
VIII ratify 1t but not until then. Even
so our allies reject us and our enemies |
nonor us. II 1t IS intended that the |
United States is to stand alone and |
tight tor her ideals she is willing to |
do so but it probably will not be
many days until there is a decided |
movement on the part of all to make
the treaty conform to American
ideals. Other nations know we are
willing to do our part in sharing the |
burdens of the world treaty or no |
treaty. Other nations will be drawn
to Us and bound by ties more binding
than can be written by the pens Of
selfish politicians.
A great victory has been won
Never again will any assume to rep
resent or misrepresent the people of |
the United States without consulting
them. The world has been told thai
IN the end public opinion in the United
States Is controlled by principles of |
justice and fairness and not by selfish |
politicians Now let the people de-
mand that such reservations be drawn
as may be necessary TO square the
treaty with American ideals and tia,
the same be ratified forthwith bur II |
1t cannot be ratified let us by our own
acts show the world that we are al |
ways willing to champion the cause of
democracy. fairness and justice be the |
aggrieved nation big or small ToI
those who were willing to overlook
the imperfeetions of the treaty and
were anxious to have il ratified in or
der to save the League of Nations we |
would say be patient. it is much better
that the United States starts right
with clean hands than 20 rush biindiy
into obligations which may cause herI
great embarrassment to her national