Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1919-10-04

warships. Slaughter deaths nnumcr-
able throughout the world a return
TO the whole Wlctchcd and ancient
competition to destroy. For If undcr
thc very sting and impetus Of the
recent great battles. it took the peace
conference. guided by the finest
brains and character existing, 50
many weary months to effect this
present proposed agreement among
nations. it seems perfectly idle 10
hope for a better or more enlightened
document If any al all. from u future
conference. But am convinced that.
given Il trial. this treaty. by its be-
nctcent effect, will establish itself
more firmly with the passage of time;
and lay a foundation, which may later
approach perfection. for future SUE
ccS>ful effort to make war possible
The telegraph, wireless, aviation
steam. submarines. modern methods
of communication, and warfare have
removed Us as Nation far afcld
from the Nation of r. diSorganizcd
struggling states. supporting fringe
Of population along the Atlantic sea
board. during the time Of George
Washington.
In point of time in those days it
was farther from Ticonderoga to
Camden than now from the Potomac
to the Rhine. With ships in every
port, with the Panama Canal, the
islands Of the Pacific, an enormous
foreign trade and foreign debt. with
thousands of miles of coast line. with
aggrcssN, ncighbors At oul doors.
in the" modern days. We can no Ion
ger remain hermit Nation. The
oceans are avenues of access. possibly.
for attack, and not insupcrablc and
protecting barriers as when George
Washington advised the newborn
Nation to ovoid cntanging foreign
alliances. The alliances of foreign
countries will entanglc US whether we
will or no.
In Sclf-dcfcnsc we must become
military power, a great military
power. on land and sea. The alter
native is. by a compact such as We
now consider, TO end this barbaTOus
competitive system Of international
preparation to grab, fight, slaughter
Il is impossible for me to under
stand how anyone can doubt that a
league of nations must tend to insure
International peace. 1t can not abso-
'utcly insure pcace-a fact to be de-
ilorcd with sorrow-2uuI with the sue
ess of this first move man will be
Encouraged 10 wisdom and wise and
'nSclfish accomplishments TO complete
full the task here begun.
Forging the larger cannon making
lc more deadly gas. the heavier
ips. assembling the larger armies
men in slavery to arms. arc the
nly methods and ideals seriously
poted heretofore in the minds of
tatesmcn rs way to provide for
ationai safety or international peace.
What rcproach to the minds and
carts Of men that the ultimate deter
lination Of international controversy
clicd alone upon the exercise of brute
orcc in personal combat. method
lcspiscd in private controversy since
he lawgNcrs and judges first sat
Why should w be willing 10 plunge
h. precious youth Of our country in
Gas Of blood, commit our Nation
rrevocably to the enterprise OF war.
appeal To the barbaric remedy of
force alone, condemn the nations Of
he earth 10 turn with hopeless eye
and heavy hearts away from our lead
,rship n an advanced and mcrciful
people. when this treaty, with its
league Of nations. offers way to
avoid war with safety and honor?
Tho hope Of every youth, Of every
mother IN the world. lies in this
realty. Ii Is the soundcSt and strong
st plan ever yet proposed to avoid
vars. Future generations viii rise
ip TO cNtol it, wisdom. TO praise its
cSults. and to call those blessed Who
damned and adopted this. the great
u document ever framed by fallible
,uman hands. There is that about
his treaty which appeals to the
,caris and souls Of men; that sheds
ipht whore for ages only darkness
cigncd; that promises an cmanci-
,ation from VAR made miserics. from
ums, from destruction. AN cmanci-
ation so complete and extensive as to
.uickcn tho imagination and to sus-
,aiu our faith in the nobility of the
worlds Leaders of the present day;
and that makes US long to see its re-
suits FOR Tho tomorrow.