The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-17

to be preparing himself for quasi
referendum after his return; but he
might 20 to every State Of the Union
and hear everywhere his League Of
Nations applauded by. the unanimous
vote Of his fellow citizens, and yet
his power to involve the country by
treaty in that mess Of responsibility
and expenditure and sacrifice which
is the aim Of his life and the prin-
cipal object Of his efforts would be
no greater than II Is at present.
While the Constitution stands Presi-
dent WILSON cannot revolutionize the
Government BY merely going forth
and calling for popular support and
at the same time constituting him
self the interpreter Of the public
voice and the teller Of its numerical
significance.
The revolutionary change to which
Senator KNOX refers can be effected
constitutionally only by constitutional
amendment in the regular way.
The constitutional process Of amend
ment requires so much time that II
the deftly interviewer treaty and COW
cnant were made to await Its conclu-
sion peace would be postponed beyond
all reason. That Is exactly why Mr..
WILSON has planned this fraud on the
people, this tying up Of the peace
which the nation wants and the
League covenant, for which we have
no evidence Of a national desire.
Not n word Of the covenant must
be changed by the Senate, President
WILSON'S followers in Paris are say
ing, according to Mr.. HnLs's des-
patch yesterday; there can be no
amendment because It would be i'm
possible to reconvene the Conference
to approve the changes suggested by
America; It must be all or nothing.
Unless America ratifies, and ratifies
at once, 1t win be at q disadvantage
with respect to the resumption OF
trade with Germany. said another
despatch last night, alleging q pre-
vious'y unpublished clause in the
treaty which provides that ratifica-
ton by Germany and three Of the
principal associated Powers will bring
the treaty into force. So II Great
Britain, France and Italy, not really
caring q copper about the covenant
should ratify, while the United States
should refuse to ratify or try to
amend, we could MT resume CONNER
cial relations with Germany, while
our associates could.
In line with all this attempted pres.
sure are the more or less Intelligent
denunciations by our neighbor the
World of what 1t calls obstruction
in the Senate. Our neighbor mysteri
ously informs Senators like LODGE
that they are playing with dynamite
and that dynamite Is highly danger
Gus commodity"
We haven't the slightest idea whaI
the World means by Its dynamite ar
gument or warning; but II It means
that something disastrous would hap
pen to the country II the Senate
should refuse to ratify treaty 1t be
lieved to be unconstitutional or ever
inexpedient the last word has mo-
yet been spoken on that subject.
1t Is nonsense to assume that thu
rejection Of the covenant or the
amendment Of Its terms would wrecl
the peace for which the people yearn
Covenant or no covenant, treaty or n,
treaty, the return Of peace might b
proclaimed by the same constitutions
authority which declared the war
namely. by bill or joint resolution o,
Congress. And then If the Presiden
should refuse to accept peace and ap
prove the bill or Joint resolution, VIII
would then be the wrecker Of peace?