Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1919-07-24
CR0NNA OPPOSES
NATIONS LEAGUE
AS AUTOCRACY
North Dakota Senator Op-
POSES HIS COLLEAGUE,
McCulnberA Alleging That
He Stands By Esprit Of
l776." +

Washington, July 18.-The fol-
lowing statement by United States
Senator AISLE J. Gronna was given
out today thru the Republican Pub
licity association:
"I have often been asked the ques-
tion( Shall the American Spirit Of
-1776, die?' To this query have an
swered, NO. and I now repeat most
emphatically that such thing can
not be possible, especially at time
when the American soldier has just
won the plaudits of the world for his
patriotism, courage, and unselfish-
ness. We stand ready in the future
as we have in the past, to demand
justice and fair play, not alone for
ourselves, but for the entire human
race.
'.It must not be thought that, be-
cause we love justice and liberty, and
are willing that all the people Of the
earth shall share in the blessings 'oi
freedom and free institutions, we are
ready to surrender any of our own
sovereignty and independence. We
are not willing to destroy our Amer
ican constitution and laws, or sur
render our American doctrines
founded by the fathers, as these are
still regarded the most precious hert-
tage we have.
81 cannot believe that the Ameri-
can people are willing that the fund
amental laws OF our land shall be so
changed that the power now lodged
in the hands of the people and OF
congress shall be transferred to all
executive council consisting mostly
Of citizens Of foreign lands, such az
.is proposed iii the covenant of the So
called proposed constitution for a
league of nations.
"For many weary months we have
been praying for q treaty of peace;
we have been ready and willing to
vote for just. honorable, and last
ing peace; but to obtain this treaty
and adopt it, 1t should not, be neces-
sary to bind our own government to
obligations which would take from
us our own sovereign rights. We
should not assume the burden Of
guaranteeing the territorial fnteg-
rity of all other nations, large and
small, and Of policing the world for
all time to come, unless we are ready
to say that our American soldiers
from now on shall be kept not on
American soil alone, but that a
standing army composed of Ameri-
can soldiers shall be kept continuous
ly upon foreign soil.
Personally, I am an advocate OF
peace, and despise war, but I be-
lieve that the proposed constitution
for league Of nations, II ratified by
us, would be the means Of involving
our government in continuous trou-
BILE and In frequent wars.
"Our Declaration Of Independence
and the constitution Of the United
States were the outgrowth Of the
American spirit Of 1776. The Declar.
alton OF Independence sets forth the
principles and the
rights Of man in language SO plain
that it seems it cannot be misunder-
stood or misinterpreted. The right
Of self-government and the inherent
right Of man to institute govern
ment in full harmony with the views
Of it's own people, are so vividly por-
trayed in the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence that those who believe iD
these sacred and fundamental prin-
ciples can easily understand them.
The proposed covenant would
not be the means Of promoting peace
because it does not limit nor does
It propose to reduce ornaments, but
It does provide that armamenst may
be increased by the powerful and
strong nations. It robs the people,
81 the smaller nations Of their most
sacred heritage, namely, the right to
Institute form Of government in
accordance with their own views.
I'VE must not overlook the fact
that some Of the greatest and most
reforms have been brought
about by revolutions, and these revo-|
lntions have never been brought
about BY men IN high places. but
have. always been brought shout byII
mon IN the rdinary walks sof life i
md Sby those Who nave been oppres-t
Isd
Shall we now, q this momentous|I