Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-23
ARTICLE X
Tho Principle We Fought For


Tho Principle We Fought For
Article X of the League Constitu-
ton provides as follows: THE mem
hers Of the League undertake to re-
spect and preserve as against exter-
nal aggression the territorial integri-
ty and existing political independence
OF all the members of the League.
In case Of any such aggression or in
case Of any threat or danger Of such
aggression. the Council shall advise
upon the means by which the obliga-
ton shall be fulfilled" *.-.
The law Of the League with the
sanction Of the power Of the League
thus forbids the violation of the in
ternational commandment. Thou
shalt not steal by force" 1t is the
embodiment of the principle that We
entered and fought this war to main
tain. It is the answer to the Ger
man doctrine announced through its
philosophers. its military writer's and
its avowed policies, that Might
makes right" 1t is the denial of the
principle which Germany set forth in
the summing up Of her whole Impe-
rial purpose. that conquest by force
was essential to the progress of Gods
world. and that she was His instru-
ment in such conquest.
Objections Answered
We are met by the objection that
the United States should not bind it
self not to extend its beneficent in
nuence in the work of civilization
through conquest. Such DIRECTORS
argue that in this way the United
States has extended its useful do
minion to the present borders OF
Mexico and to the Pacific Ocean. II
this argument Is sound, then the
United States should certainly not
enter the League. II we yield to 1t.
we ought never to have entered upon
the war against Germany. The ar
gument is not in the slightest de-
gree to be distinguished from that Of
the German philosophers and mill
tary men whose purpose Germany
was carrying out in this war. If the
| Improvement in civilization and its
spread are dependent on war in its
present form. involving for the future
| what is practically world suicide.
then surely mankind is in bad sit
uation. Those who support the
League may we'll leave to the people
of the United States and the peo-
pie Of the world the decision whether
they prefer a slower method OF i'm
proving Christian civilization than
by one which involves the cruel de-
struction of one-half the world in
order to enable the other half to get
on.
| The second and the more persua-
sive objection which is urged to Arti-
Gle X is that it is likely to involve
us in wars all over the world, and to
require our soldiers to undergo SUI
fering and hardships and to give up
their lives in battle waged for remote
countries in whose welfare we have
but little interest. 1t is said it will
prove to be a heavy burden, both in
life and treasure. for our people.
How Obligation Is Limited
In answering this objection. it is
to be noted that the operation Of
Article X to increase the other OBJ
legations of the League is compare
lively small.
| Under Article XI to XVII inclusive
provision is made for the peaceful
| settlement of all threatening dis
putes between nations by safeguard
ing action of the League. by arbitra-
ton, by mediation and recommends
ton Of settlement. and by enforce
ment of covenants restraining war