Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-02-20
R9S
RANTTNG AT THE PRESIDENT

The country knows that the object of auack on M part ol Woee
narrow minded senators is not so much the League OF Nations a IL Is
President Wilson himself. Their jealousy has developed INTO such
hatred that they stop at nothing to work off their spleen
But while these senators are ranting and saving m air. proving
q the country how insignificant they are, President Wilson is n
gagged in the greatest piece of constructive craftsmanship that the
world mas ever known. He is working toward the ideal; he IS STRIVING
for the advancement of civilization; he is struggling for the uph1t d
humanity; he is devoting all his energies toward making 'e "oHu "
better and a safer place to live in.
The contrast between these senator's at Washington, who are try
ing TO tear down and President Wiso, who is trying to build up is
too plain to be discussed. =
Take Senator Borah, for instance. He has been hailed rs one oil
tbe leading progressive senator in congress. He has been mentioned
as a possibility for the Republican nomination for the presidency mex
wear. Senator Borah is afraid even to meet President Wilson ace 10
face and discuss the League of Nations in an impartial manner. e
does not want to have the President discuss the question with him II
all. He has declined the invitation to dine with the President along
with other members Of the foreign relations committee when the res
ident returns to Washington.
Senator Borah may attempt to justify his puerile actions IN vari-
N wavs but he cannot change popular belief that he is afraid the
President will prove to him that he is wrong in the stand he has ake
in regard to the League of Nations, and the senator does not want to
have to admit that he is wrong. He is afraid he cannot successfully
meet the Presidents arguments; he is afraid of the facts and would
dodge the truth. He would rather be free to stamp up and down the
o;sles of Che senate chamber harpng before the crowded galleries fav-
oring nothing, advocating nothing, offering no constructive egh'h-
zion but merely criticzing and condemning President Wilson.
What an in6nitesimal politician he makes OF himself IN compari
son with the man he would seek TO destroy.
Yesterday it was Senator Poindexter who opened the discussion
on the League of Nations by a three hour speech in his effort to show
that the United States was to become the slave of Europe and that the
precious Monroe Doctrine was to be thrown to the winds. III fresi
dent believing the senators as anxious rs He 10 prhS apVu' p" '"-e
peace in the world and to establish a means whereby nations might
settle their differences without resorting to arms, had asked the SEN
ators to refrain from discussing the subject until he had had a oppor
tunity to explain the plan as drawn up by a committee composed OF the
leading nations of the world to them, going over with them the cove
nant that has been prepared section by section. -
~.4 Il IkSss agsas2nahs ,Ee@est and H-the-sens"Ts were sincere tn
their desire for universal peace; if they really favored bringing the
nations of the world together in order to have a better ers'an
ro5uca armament protect little nations and advance civilization gen.
orally they would have readily assented. They would glory IN the
great achievement of President Wilson at the peace conference and
regardless of party, they would be anxious to nave q art In 's srea'
epoch-making work.
But that bitter jealousy ON the part of the senators Will not per-
NIT them To eve give the President a respectable hearing. regard
less of the fact that congress is far behind in its work; in spite o IN
fact that there is practically nothing but talk to show for the present
session. the debate on the League Of Nations is opened as much tt sho"
defiance of the President as anything else. Three hours IL M ID. )
time were wasted yesterday and other senator's have announced
they propose to talk for steen hours more on N y 10 ioi'", wv
though the present session of congress expires by limitation on March
A. leaving only nine more working days to accomplish whatever is TO
be done.
Poindexter's argument is that the League of Nations would mean
tho surrender of the sovereignty of the United States and would do
away with the Monroe Doctrine. Careful reading of the constitution
of the League of Nations as presented to the peace eonlerense uOrs
moi Indicate that there is any sovereignty lost by any hauon, my "oio
than any nation loses its sovereignty when 1t IS forced INTO a war
against its will. The United States, in a sense, lost its sovereignty III III
the recent war. The United States did not want to go TO war, u ~ ~
was compelled to and all the legislation of congress could not keep 1t
out. Necessity knows no law or sovereignty. would IL not DC peue.
70 enter into an agreement with other nations in an effort to prevent
war, rather than remain aloof on the ground of protecting one $ SOW
oreignty and be compelled to spend millions of dollars not to mention
the thousands of lives, sovereignty o r no sovereignty.
AS for the Monroe Doctrine, what is it but a guarantee for the
protection OF n uue nathohs Oh the hmeIlo"h o"N
a guarantee by the United States alone. Now, If all the nations OF
the world join in that guarantee and include not only the safety oil
the little countries ON the American continent, but the safety o the
little nations throughout the whole world, how is the guarantee Tor
the little American naions that has been given by the United States
alone destroyed Is it not a strengthening OF the Monroe Doctrine
rather than an abandonment of it, by agreeing to the constitution OF
the League of Nations whereby every nation of Europe agrees to de-
fend and protect the countries of Central and South America, a work
at the present time undertaken by the United States alonef L the
European countries attempt TO violate the rights of any of the Amer
lean countries then the League of Nations fails and the Monroe Doc
trine still lives as it has always lived since given to the world by Presi-
dent Monroe a century ago.
The United States has ceased to be an isolated country. Her COM
merce extends to all parts of the globe. The recent war has proven
that any great war, no matter where fought, is bound to have Its effect
on the United States and we cannot escape our responsibility. We are
one of the greatest and most powerful nations and We must share our
burdens in the protection of the little nations. The only way to do this
is to join with the other leading nations in the great work for human
ity. That is what President Wilson is trying to do, and that is what
lie is in a fair way of accomplishing in spite of the antagonism on the
part of certain United States senators.
This is something far above petty party poliths.l 1t concerns the