Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-20
Wednesday, February 10, 1878.
Americas Duty.

new covenant TOR the League OF VA
lions. Nor should any thinking per
son be expected to swallow it whole
90 sight, without grease or relish.
For i: is an aii-embracing document
dealing with an epochai change in
the course Of civilization. And this
covenant is stiil subject to amend
nent. 10 additions and removals. TO
II is a groundwork for. revision. II,
may rot be perfect. and II should
hardly be classified by prejudice On
presentation. Neither should its
godfather nor its grandmother pre-
sumo TO tell Congress or anybody
else that this covenant is too sacred
TOR ordinary lips TO discuss or dis
sect Indeed. to US it seems that dis
cuss.on should be stimulated: that
it's merits should be set forth by its
friends aud It's defects dug out and
laid bare by those who have no faith
IN SUCH a league.
Having gone this far for humanity
and to make the world safe for
ocmocrac: We should at least be
ready to consider every reasonable
project for making all countries bet
ter and safer places in which to live.
If such a provision is possible. then
every vital principle Of national right
should be safeguarded. and he that
discovers a new means will confer a
service.
Our national. state and local laws
have not abolished crime or elimi-
mated secret pacts. plots and eva
sions. but they are constantly better
ing conditions and Strengthening the
hand Of right over might.
II is enough for US to realize that
today such a coalition is POSSIBLE,
whereas i've years ago it would have
been INCONCENABLE. We are
living In a new age in which the su-
prsme power of public opinion has
come to the front and can no longer
be stided or set aside. Not even this
great peace making body with all it's
embodied greed and opportunity for
log-rolling and trading, could be held
as had been every other congress of
its kind. in sessions closed to the
world.
The great masses Of all the peoples
OF all the nations taking part would
not stand for the discredited methods
Of autocracy. 1t was not what
Woodrow Wilson is but what he was
keen enough to see he MUST stand
for. that turned the peoples to him in
expectancy and made him the domi-
nant figure of the pourparlers-and
thereafter. We have stepped for
ward beyond the bold assumption of
oligarchy into the spiri. Of majority
understanding and conscience.
If man be big enough to hold,
and has lived long enough to ac-
quire, all the wisdom Of the ages and
nations. and is gifted with prophetic
vision beyond the accredited mind of
the worlds greatest statesmen and
scholars. he may pretend to judge in
advance the fruition or failure of the
League of Nations project. Other
wise he would better hold himself
down to presenting possibilities of
improving the plan that is bound to
be put into effect. rather than to
shouting that there can't be no such
animal"
An international agreement calcu
lated to prevent war and to abolish
the pleasing habit of festive en-
perors. kings and like over-long
-olerances of God Of gobbling I'D
heir little neighbors or Of exploiting
The uncivilized peoples Of the world.
IS just as certain Of accomplishment
as is equal suffrage. prohibition Of
drugs and booze evils, and other evi-
5ences of moral evolution. 1t is
Useless for men to drag their feet
ter political reasons or otherwise.
The thing is coming and it matters
not whether We like the agency. Our
exertions should be toward lettering
the quality Of the product.
The worlds people arc going to
throw of the burden OF preparedness
20 defend. each from the other. The
world has had its belly full Of the
cost Of maintaining tho drones Of
professional warriors Of any decree
or color. World common sense is al
most done building the things con-
cefved only for purposes Of destruc.
ton and to be destroyed. World
conservation OF human strength and
resources bid the construction Of only
those things that are useful in the
Intercourse OF peace and human ad-
vance upward. 1t Is to come, and the
chap who fails to get aboard or to
push behind only advertises himself
~ q back number. We sincere,v
hope that partisan feeling or pseju.
dice will have no part in an ATTEMPT
70 delay or destroy.
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