Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-20

not touch the real mark, although they
may trouble the innocent bystander.
Another DOGGY of an equally unsub-
stantial kind is that England" has in
the body of delegates six votes to our
one. If the only functions of this body
are to talk, to select the four other
states to be represented on the execu-
tive council, and to make unanimous
recommendations after inquiry into a
dispute, the number of votes therein are
not OF much consequence. Moreover,
even II the British self-governing COL
onies are admitted as members of the
league, it is by no means certain that
Great Britain can always control their
votes; and on the other hand-tell it not
in Gath-who but the United States
would practically control today the votes
OF Panama, of Nicaragua, OF Haiti and
of San Domingo?
Senator Lodge has told us that we
ought to be very cautious in abandoning
a policy laid down by Washington and
followed for hundred years, and there
is good sense in the caution. 1t does
down to fmmobility by the traditions of
the past regardless of changes in con-
ditions. That would be wholly contrary
to the American spirit. and to the char
acter of Washington himself, who was
one of the greatest innovators in his
tory, for the reason that he fixed his
vision, not upon the past, but on the facts
of his day and the problems of the fu-
ture. Senator Lodges caution means only
this, that the burden OF proof always
rests upon those who advocate some
thing new.
Next we come to the greatest bugbear
of all, the point on which popular alarm
is most readily awakened by vague de-
nunciation without definite explanation.
1t is the Monroe doctrine. AS one OF
those who have always believed strongly
in this doctrine, / understand that it
means, or is by some persons supposed
to mean, several different things. In
its original sense it meant that no for
eign nation should interfere with the in
dependence, or seek by force to acquire
any part OF the territory, of any country
in the American hemisphere Taken in
this sense the covenant extends the doc
trine over the whole world. or at least
over all that part OF it which is covered
by the league.
Some Americans, while protesting a
faith in the right of all peoples to indie
pendence and self-government,a are really
imperialist at heart. They believe in the
right and manifest destiny of the United
States to expand by overrunning its
weaker neighbors. They appeal TO a
spirit Of patriotism that sees no object,
holds no ideals, and acknowledges no
rights or duties, but the national welfare
and ACKNOWLEDGMENT In the name of that
principle Germany sinned and fell. The
ideas of these American imperialists are
less grandiose, but at bottom they differ
little from hers. 1t would be a cal
amity if we should have helped to over
come Germany only to be conquered by
her theories and her errors.
This covenant is not perfect, it is
draft. published for criticism and will re-
ceive plenty of it, and through criticism
some improvement also But even when
perfected, it will not be perfect. Moth
ing human is perfect; still more, it will
not satisfy everybody. In the nature
of things it is many people within each
nation. 1t is a compromise between
these views, and compromise is the very
life blood of all legislation, where the
unsatisfactory, and the evil if you will,
must be taken with the good, and for
the sake of the greater good The cove
nant is imperfect and poorly drawn, but
it is framed on the right lines. The
substance of the plan, the principles on
which it is founded are correct and
should be accepted and improved.