Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-17

the quadruple and the Holy Alliance
And long before we saw a line of this
secret tremendous propaganda financed
with hundreds of thousands of dollars,
obtained from clubs and organizations
enthusiastic Endorsements. Our people
were taught to chant promote peace and
prevent war" The formula promote
peace and prevent war swept over all
the land, and its necessary corrollary.
before there was any League of Nations
at all, was the Endorsement of the fan
tastic thing which feared the light in
its creation and has denied to those most
affected by it the slightest knowledge of
the circumstances, events and details of
its composition. | received just as other
senator's did, innumerable resolutions be-
fore anyone of US had the slightest con-
ception of what the League of Nations
was. and the resolutions, in like tenor
have continued from that time to the
present Before publication of it various
trainloads of distinguished gentlemen
were going about the country holding
meetings and conventions in different To-
calties advocating an undisclosed docu-
ment dealing with the future of the Re-
public.
OF course. when the document ultimate
~ was given publicity. those who had
in advance so Historically and enthusiast
tcally embraced it continued their adj
NocacN And while most of them grldg-
insly admitted what the President denied
that it required amendment, nevertheless
whether it, had been amended or not
whether the most treasured policies Of
the republic has been touched or de-
stroyed would not have altered the hectic
h farfa e
That they have created tremendous
sentiment in this country by the repeti-
ton of their formula. promote peace and
prevent war" is perhaps so. They rush
the platform and demand of their audit
ors, Don't YOU want to prevent war;"
and there is immediate unanimity in the
response, "Of course we want to prevent
war" Thereupon the advocates say, "In-
asmuch AS you are against war and desire
to prevent it. you must favor the League
Of Nations" And the ordinary man. ac-
cepting the statement. subscribed to the
resolutions to promote peace and pre-
vent war" There is another group, too.
among them some very excellent people
who have Historically embraced this
document. They are those who oonscien-
tiously abhor war and are in general
opposed to it. They found themselves
during the last two years suppressed and
repressed by espionage bills and by the
mass consciousness aroused in the nation
IN favor of the war. To voice their senti-
ments then meant Jail, and they were
compelled either by regard for the
wishes of their fellows or by personal fear
to suppress expression of what had been
their lifelong thought With the League
of Nations and its formula, Promote
peace and prevent war" these people
found once more the possibility of eX-
preston, and the two years Of suppression
under the law but made them perhaps
more earnest and more vociferous in their
newly acquired right to speak upon one
subject. There are many other Circum-
stances which contribute to the first hys-
terra and perhaps 10 the present senti-
ment in favor of this League. The awful
tragedy of the world. the sorrow. the
grief and the anguish of those whose
dear ones had made the supreme sucri-
nee, the fearful waste and weller of
necessity turned the thoughts of all men
and of all women to a prevention of
another world tragedy and cataclysm
Those of us who have spent a part of
our lives in humanitarian endeavor were
resolved after the experience of this great
conflict to take, as far as human agency
could. some forward step to preclude
another. To all of these people-and I
number myself among them-the idea of
a League or confederation or union of
the nations of the earth in behalf of the
right, for the protection of the weak
against the strong, to preclude the sue
cessful elimination of national cunning
and cupidty and to prevent future con-
flicts of Gods creatures possessed
charm and an allurement, hope and
an inspiration which we would have gone
far to realize and consummate The
various phases of our dissillusonment |
will not dwell upon. Each milestone of
the peace conference successfully marks
them. The beautiful phrases of altruism
and idealism are 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 present.
alton of the covenant came the shatterng
of all our fond hopes.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
wish that l could adequately picture
the situation at Paris in the peace con-
ference. The great British Empire is
there represented not alone by the ablest
and most brilliant officials of the home
government, but by the most astute and
talented statesmen of England, all for
Britain, and all with an eye single to
Brtan's power and greatness. For
France. her grand old premier and her
most famous citizens, stand there ever
alive to Frances rights. and fighting for
Frances ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Italy. from
her various parties, has sent her best.
skilled and learned in statecraft, Italians
all, for Italy and ltaly's future. Japan's
cunning and illustrious sons fight Japan's
battles for Japans expansion and Japan's
increase in territory and wealth. Every
small nation on earth and every one that
hopes to be small nation have sent of
their very best and very highest. each
intent upon his own nation, its progress
and it's happiness, its future and its
prosperity There is Just one nation
unrepresented, perhaps included in a
nebulous vision of internationalism. bur
not otherwise, and that is the United
States of America. The position
originally assumed by our country of
idealism and altrusm struck a responsive
chord in the generous hearts of Amer
leans. but, unfortunately we have seen
our idealism abandoned our altruisn,
forgotten We have observed with
astonishment and indignation our coun-
trv inextricably bound in the sordd cum
Ming secret and crafty designs nj
European and Asiatic governments We
would wish, if we could not stem the tide
Of greed and avarice, selhshness and
sordidness, and stop the secret plotting