The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-03-01
News of the World
SENATORS OPPOSE PROPOSED
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Speeches Delivered on Both Sides OF Question
&C. B. W.


United States Senate, this week, by Senators
Reed, Poindexter Borah and others against
ratification of the proposed league OF nations
Senator Reed in the course OF his speech,
said that the United States had prospered and
developed into the greatest country in the world
under policy of ''no entangling alliances
with European nations. This policy, he said
had been carried out as the very basis OF Amer
lean freedom by Washington, Jefferson, Mad
ison, Monroe, jackson, Calhoun, Clay, Wepster
Lincoln and Cleveland.
He declared we must face the fact that a
league of nations meant an entire departure
from this established policy and that we had
come to the crossroads where it was necessary
for us either to continue in the path which we
had previously successfully trod or start on a
new road which was uneXplOred and uncertain
He said that most of the people had not stopped
to anayze what league OF nations would
really mean-what it's results might be or how
its activities would work.
With a vision which pierced into the future
he said that the proposed league OF nations
would consist of the nations which had been
victorious in the world war, and that ii this
league started out to tell other nations OF the
world how to conduct themselves and to com
pel the remainder of the world to abide by Its
decisions that-just as before the war we had
triple alliance and an entente opposed to an
other alliance which had resulted IN the great
world war-we would have, after the war, this
league Of nations and another opposing league
of nations springing up, with the inevitable re
suit Of another world war.
Senator PoindeXter declared that the pro
posed league involved the surrender by the
United States Of the right to defend herself or
to attack an enemy country, that it was full OF
complications and that it would force the United
,,,+o limo oil hn
of Europe and wipe out the Monroe doctrine.
Senator Borah said, among other things:
'FWe are now proposing what to my mind is
the most radical departure from our policies
that has ever been proposed since our govern
ment was established. | believe this program
if it is to be made effective and operative under
the proposed constitution of the league, neces-
sarily involves a change in our constitution
Certainly questions of that kind ought to be
submitted to a plebiscite or to vote OF the
people"
He asked, "Why should we interweave our
policy and our destiny with Europes destiny?''
He characterized the plan as a notification of
Washington foundation principle Of keeping
America out of Europe and Monroe's doctrine
Of keeping Europe out of America He charged
that the constitution of the league made no dis
tinction between European affairs and American
affairs, at the same time giving Europe the con-
trolling power as against America.
He said that the first obligation which we
would assume under this league would be to
protect the territorial integrity Of the British
Empire, which would take us into every habit
able part Of the earth; and, at the same time
should we become involved with another ma
tion-Japan or Mexico, for instance-we could
not defend ourselves upon our own initiative
but that the league would decide what should
be done and whether or not aid should be
given US.
The Chicago Tribune, in it's editorial columns
of February 25, said:
"In his Boston speech President Wilson adds
nothing to the history of the proposed league
of nations. He tells not one word of his plans
for the government of the world. In his ap-
peals to the emotions, however, he is even more
masterful than we have hitherto seen him.
''He claims to be the representative Of hu-
manity His methods must not be questioned
He must be followed blindly That he has blind
followers by thousands will not be denied.
These blind followers he wishes to throw, like
army, against the judgment of the senate
The senate must follow him. not because it be-
lieves he is right but because he threatens it's
individual members with political extinction if
they dare to question in any degree his hidden
plans
eve doubt that one American in a million
has the faintest idea of what is proposed exact
ly and precisely, in the league of nations doc
ument. Nevertheless many Americans in every
thousand are urging, with moral enthusiasm
that the United States senate adopt the doc
ument. We want to know what it will do to
the United States, and that is what the senate
is trying to find out"
On February "a, Senator Lewis, of Illinois
usually referred to as the administration
whip, " fired the opening gun in defense Of the
league of nations which President Wilson has