The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-28

eminent in the world, and we are the
great rampant to-day against the an
archy and disorder which have taken
possession OF Russia and are trying to
invade every other peaceful country in
the world. For Lincoln's government Of
the people, for the people, and by the
people, we are asked to substitute in the
United States on many vital points of
government Of, for, and by other people.
Pause and consider well before YOU take
this fateful step.
1--WE must build 40 bridges across the
chasm which now separates American
freedom and order from Russian anarchy
and destruction. We must see to it that
the democracy of the United States
which has prospered so nightly in the
past, is not drawn by any hasty error or
by any glittering decisions, through spe.
cious devices Of supernatural govern.
ment within the tolls of international So
cialism and anarchy"
Amendments proposed by Senator
Lodge included a specific provision ex-
Guiding the Monroe doctrine from the
leagues purview. This, he said, could be
done in three lines. immigration and
other internal and domestic questions
and those vital to national existence also
should be excluded from the leagues jur.
sdiction, he said, adding:
"There should be some definite provis-
ion for peaceful withdrawal from the
league Of any nation that desires to
withdraw.
Let us have a definite statement as to
whether the league is to have an inter.
national force Of its own or is TO have
the power TO summon the armed forces
of the different members.
let it be stated in plain language
whether the measures the recommenda-
tons or suggestions of the executive
council are to be binding on members
and are to compel them to do what the
league delegates and executive council
determine"
UNLESS some better constitution for a
league than this can be drawn. it seems
to me that the worlds peace win
be much better, much more surely pro-
NOTED by allowing the United States to
go on under the Monroe doctrine respon-
sble for the peace Of this hemisphere,
without any danger of collision with
Europe as to questions among the vari-
Gus American states and if league is
desired ii might be made up by the
European nations whose interests are
chiefly concerned and with the United
States could cooperate fully and at any
time, whenever cooperation is needed.
1T must also be remembered that if
the United States enters any league Of
nations it does so for the benefit of the
world at large and not for its own bene-
fit. Ii we join Il league it must be with
the view of maintaining peace in Europe,
where all the greatest wars have orig
mated. Our share in any league must be
wholly for the benefit Of others"
Declaring that the tentative eonstitu-
ton is open to amendment and change,
being merely a committee report, SEN
ator Lodge said it should be widely CON
sidered and discussed to give the peace
conferees complete opinions.
"As it stands" he said, there is Sc
rious danger that the very nations which
sign the constitution will quarrel about
the meaning of the various articles be-
fore o tweve-month has passed 1t
seems to have been very hastily drafted
and the result is crudeness and looseness
of expression.
Before we ratify, the terms and Ian
guage must be as exact and as precise,
as free from any possibility of conflict
ing interpretations as it is possible to
make them. The explanation or inter
probation of any of these doubtful pas
sages is net sufficient if made by one
man, whether that man be the president
of the United States, a senator or any
one else"
In detailed criticism of the present
constitutional form, Senator Lodge said:
eve abandon entirely the policy laid
down by Washington in his farewell ad-
dress and the Monroe doctrine. 1t is
worse than idle, it is not honest, to eyade
or deny this fact In the twinkling of
an eye, while passion and emotion reign,
the Washington policy is to be entirely
laid aside and we are to enter on a per
manent and indssoluble alliance.
Under the terms of this league draft
the Munroe doctrine disappears, / have
seen it said that the Monroe doctrine is
preserved under article 10; that we don't
abandon the Monroe doctrine, we merely
extend it to all the world. How anyone
can say this passes my comprehension.
Under this draft American questions and
European questions and Asian and Afri-
can questions are all alike put within
the control and jurisdiction of the
league"
Criticizing the territorial guarantee
provision, Senator Lodge said that the
United States would join in the obliga-
ton to maintain all national boundaries
everywhere, which, he said, was "a very
grave, very perilous promise to make !"
1t would require, he said, constant pos
session of fleets and armies, and added:
There is no need of arguing whether
there is to be compulsive force behind
this league. 1t is there in article 10 alb
solutely and entirely in their guaran.
tees"
Senator Lodge questioned whether the
proposed draft really makes for har-
mony among the nations or will tend to
produce dissension and controversy"
I'VE all desire peace he said, ''but in
our zeal for peace we must be careful not
to create new obligations and new and
untried conditions which may lead to
fostering war rather than peace"