Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-08-29
LEAGUE FULFILS.
AMERICAN IDEAL
Herbert Hoover Says Democra-
cies Replaced Autocracies
at Our Bidding.
FOOD ADMINISTRATION CHIEF.
Urges Ratification on Ground Tia,
Peace Treaty Will COLLAPSE
Without League Of
Nations.

Nerpert' fiooVer Is so deeply con-
cerned over the opposition to the
League of Nations in the United
States that he has let himself be in
terviewed at length on the League sit
uati0n. In talk with the New York
1lmeS correspondent in Paris, the
ROOD Administration Chief aSScr:s that
having caused the League idea ,o pro-
vail America cannot abandon IT. We
cannot withdraw, he says, and leave
europe to chaos. ITO abandon The
League Covenant now means that the
treaty itself will collapse"
Mr.. lio0vcrs wide acquaintance
| with conditions both here and abroad
his reputation as an administrator. n
man of great affairs who deals with
factS, not theories, make his state
ment one of the most important con-
tributions to the recent League discus
sions.
There are one or two points in con-
nection with the present treaty." said
Mr.. Hoover. that need careful consid
GRAFTON by the American public. We
need TO digest the fact that we have
for century and a hnif been adve-
eating democracy not only as a.
remedy for the internar ills of all So
ciety, but also as the only real safe
guard against war. We have believed
and proclaimed. in season and out,
that world in which there was a.
free expression and enforcement Of
the wifi of the. majority was the real
basis Of government, was essential for
the advancement Of civilization, and
that we have proved its enormous hu.
man benefits In our country.
American Ideas Have Prevailed.
I'VE went into the war to DESTROY
autocracy as menace to our own and,
all other democracies. If we had not
come into the war every inch Of Euro
pean soil today would be under auto
cratic government. We have imposed
our VIII on the world. Out of this
victory has come the destruction of
the four great aatocracies in Ger
many, Russia, Turkey and Austria and
the little autocracy in Greece. New
democracies have sprung into being in
Poland, Finland, Letvia, Lithuania,
ESthonia, Czechoslovakia, Greater
Serbia, Greece, Siberia, and even Ger
many and Austria have established
democratic governments. Beyond
these host of small republics, such
as Armenia, Georgia, AZerbaiian and
others. have sprung up, and again as
result of this great world movement
the constitutions Of Spain, Rumania.
and even England, have made final
ascent to complete franchise and de-
lnocracy, although they still maintain
symbol Of royalty.
1--WE have been the living spring for
this last century and half from which
these ideas have sprung, and we have
triumphcd The world today, except
| for q comparatively few reactionary
and comnunistic autocracies, is dem
ocratic, and we did it.
"A man who takes wife and
blesses the world with several infants
cannot so away and leave them on
| the claim that there was no legal mar
riage.
"These infant democracies all have
! political, social and economic prob
! lens Involving their neighbors that
are fraught with the most intense
! friction There are no natural bound.
| aries In Europe. Races are not COM
pact; they blend at every border. They
Need railway communication and sea
, outlets through their neighbors' terri.
! tory.
"Mnny Of these states must for the
next fcw years struggle almost for
bare bones TO maintain their very
| existence. Every ono of them Is go.
ing To do It's best: 10 protect it's own
interests. even TO the prejudice OF ia
nCighbors.
|! Governments Lack Experience.
eve in America should realize that