The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-07-25
LEAGUE OF NATIONS DE-
Tended BY CUMMINGS

Chairman Homer Cummings was
received with cheer when he rose to
speak. His address was devoted al
most entirely to the League Of Ma
tions. He paid his compliments to
the fault-finders and the critics who
he said are now scurrying for cover,
having learned what ought to have
been apparent to the most casual
observer, that public ssntiacnt Is
back OF the movement for lasting
peace and League Of Nations to
assure peace. His address was pune
tuated by frequent applause.
In part Mr.. Cummings said:
I" / speak to you tonight of a great
man and a great cause. The mighty
impulse which President Wilson gave
to progressive thought and the unex-
ampled skill with which he directed
the forces Of legislation, have result
ed In placing in the very structure OF
our law, remedial statutes, long need
ed and SO just and efficacious, that no
critic suggests their repeal. From
the passage OF the income tax to the
establishment of the federal reserve
system, the whole movement has been
ever forward. When the great war
came. his leadership rose to still
greater heights until today, Ameri-
ca Is the best loved and the most
trusted nation In all the world. Her
record Is unblemished and there is a
worldwide Reorganization of the nobi-
lity and generosity of her purposes.
Remembered as Ungenerous.
There are some who would deny
to President Wilson any credit for
these great achievements, ascribing
them to mere coincidence or pro-
claiming their inevitability. With
such persons, we shall not pause to
debate. II they are known to history
at all, they will be remembered as
ungenerous critics. who in period of
extraordinary difficulty sought to en-
harrass one Of the great leaders Of
all time. They WIN be remembered
as the fault-finders of the Civil War
are remembered. with sort Of pity
ing contempt for men whose vision
was 30 clouded that they did not know
In the day and time Of it, the great
ness Of Lincoln, During the progress
Of the great war from which we are
just emerging President Wilson. more
clearly than any other statesman, de-
fined the purpose of the conflict and
gave to our cause spiritual power |
that made our material forces irresi- |
stible.. And when the end drew near, |
the people of all lands looked to the |
American president to formulate the |
terms upon which hostilities we're to |
cease. 1t is his purpose to garner |
the results of the war and to make /
certain that the sacrifices of Ameri- |
ca and of the world have not been in |
vain. He has not forgotten that it was |
war against war, against hereditary |
power, against all the cruel things |
that have menaced mankind from the
inseiatlea Net the Answer. ]
How shall political equilibrium be
restored? How shall society be
steadied 80 that the processes Of
healing may serve their beneficent
purpose? Has statesmanship no bet
ter answer than to suggest that
America should attempt to withdraw
into position of studied isolation,
leaving the world to choose and invit-
Ing a recurrence of world war into
which America will be drawn as in
evitably as 1t was drawn into this
war? Shall we follow the policy of
gnominious but futile selfishness?
Shall that great light OF hope which
aamed from liberty-loving America
lpon the troubled and desperate peo-
Pies Of the earth be darkened forever?
There Ii neither honor nor salty In
'uch response to an agonised world
No man and no party Intentionally
'Iacing obstacles In the way Of Lea
yuc Of Nations will survive long
,aough to outlive the memory OF cuch
n oRense against humanity and civil
ixation.
leaaue ls . Fact.
The covenant Of the League Of
Nations has become one OF the great
acts OF history. The treaty Of peace
the covenant Of tho league,
aust be accepted or rejected Sena-
orial critics can no longer hnd 4 t
comfortable hiding place under the
'retsxt that they favor = League Of '
lattoAs. The issue IL clear cut and 4
They are either In '
ayor of this partacular league or Z
~ ars oppossd = Any leasue 1t I'll. Z
\ rsposteA thn4 ~ senatorial crit :
o afs h cus1GuG enandafy, They l
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