The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-25

am opposed TO the League q,
Nations, which is now pending fol
ratification by the senate.
NJ am opposed 20 il because Ii 1,
4nnossible under the state OF tSyi
1;zation and the variety OF human
interests in the world; on accol 1T a
climate, race and civilization.
league is "a treaty, alliance ca cen
federation between Two or NOR,
snyereigns or governments tol
mutual aid and defense" They may
he and generally are, offensive apC
defensive. sThe latter wnan they
mite In attacking a common
eoen.v: and defensive VIII an the mar
ties agree to assist each othe- In
4, tense against d comm1a anenly."
Qur late Mr. Justice Miller of tho
federal supreme court said in 112 q
S. 5s0-59S:
"A treaty is primarily a com
pact between independent ma
lions. Ii depends FOR the en-
forcement of its provisions on the
interest and the honor of the
governments which are parties to
ii. Ii these fail It's Tnfraction
becomes the subject or inter
national negotiations ana recla-
nations so far as the injured
party chooses to seek redress,
which may IN the enc be en-
forced by actual WAR. 1t is obvi.
Gus that with all tins, the judi
c,al courts have nothing 10 60
and give NO redress"
So that, every treaty or league
ulnGgihslstx- oF ~
because the league or treaty has no
internal power, as among the con.
tracing nations, of enforcing its
agreements. When individuals. sub.
iects or parties of any contracting
nation. disagree in civil or other
matters. this government, over these
uarties has power TO ENFORCE its laws
and DEGREES, and may pauTsa or &c.
stroy the offending party regardless
of honor or design. So ! look al
ii, "a league TO enforce peace is a
u,isncner, and has no poTver 10 en-
force peace other than the mind and
wish Of the contracting parties at
the time Of peril or possible war.
Treaties or leagues or nations
should have NO other object or pur-
pose in view, than to promote peace
fnI. social and commercial relations
between them, where suca relations
are mutual, and the parties feel that
their respective interests are 5denti-
cal upon the given question in issue.
The interest of the respective ma
tions, depends on the state OF civiii-
cation. commercial and social attain
rlenrs at the time and these may be
and have always been SO divergent
and ever changing thar no one rule
Of action can be laid down to meet
such emergency and necessities OF
..ali the people all the time"
History furnishes no successful
example OF any such contemplated
peace league. al is now proposed and
advocated by its woald be defenders.
for rae enforcement of peace. and l
might gay, not ON earth, or possibly
in heaven.
For ne read OF rebellions and
league breaking even before the
world war, and strike OF about
third OF ell the hosts OF that good
land occurred, and with Lucifer al
the head, a different place was occu-
pied which still seems 20 De doing
business without any thought Of re-
suming their place In the former
league.
One would think from Mr.. WILSON'S
fourteen points" that the only thing
for the nations Of the world 10 do,
is to now step up ana sign their
names 10 this paper, and wars Will
be forgotten, even children will not
cry, dogs viii not bark, and lions
and lambs Will sleep sweetiy To-
gether.
The covenant OF Eden was broken,
over some trouble about 2 snaHe IN
the grass and an apple. Then Cam
and Abel broke their hrotheTiy
league when one Killed the other
The human race is anoFn only
through its wars. The Psopie VINO
do not fight for their existence only
await the time when they are con
sumed by the ones who 90 Korea
and China for example.
All leagues or covenants last only
so long as the interest, thoughts and
wishes Of the people continue as oil
the time OF the making thereof. Even
the holy league of 1867 failed OF Its
purpose and possibly because OF in.
herent differences in the application
Of religion TO the human being.
Nothing has ever stayed and made
permanent any order. league or cove
nant designed for the future, and
nothing can or viii ever De made to
stand any longer than the changing
conditions OF the human families re-
curing different rules and obiiga-
tons OF the one people 10 the other.
| may say, that the world TO-DAY LIS
no nearer the peace question than II
was before this league OF nations
was proposed, and when the pipe
dream OF the fourteen points came
under the FIRE Of human intellect and !
human necessities, it was found as
varied as the people of the world.
1t may be, and probably is true
that the 1--WE great nations nave some
mutual interest today so that they /
IAN i've together for a time IN haT-
nony and peace, but OF that ] am !
aot sure. The power to enforce peace i
IL the world rested ar the close OF
his war. in the great allies, and |
when the central powers were De
jtrcyed and on their knees and this
.nforced by means OF death and de-
truction. 1t was sufficient for these
.llied powers TO FIX the penalty ard