The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-22
SENATOR SAYS SAVE
U.S.. FROM LEAGUE
"America First" Is Warning
of Frelinghuysen as He
Tells Of Perils.
G. O. P. FACES BIG TASK
Must Defeat International
Plots as Well as Those
Within Nation.

!. Within Nation.
America First" was the topic OF the
speech delivered yesterday afternoon by
United States Senator ]. 8. Freiinghuy-
sen at Trenton. N. j., before the State
League OF Republican Cuba Senator
Frelinghuysen. an earnest opponent of
the League of Nations schsme, told
Jerseys leading Republicans that II was
the absolute duty OF the party of Lin
coin and Roosevelt to save the republic
from the Vaccinations Of those who
would merge American sovereignty into
an autocratic world council.
The Senator outlined, indeed, the es-
sential planks Of the national platform
which must be adopted next year.
These declarations, as he understands
the opportunity and duty of the party,
are to defeat the plots of the inter-
nationalists, against the sovereignty of
the republic; to preserve constitutional
government to bar undesirable immi-
grants, to strangle Bolshevism and /.
w. w. and Amerrcanize the foreign
born; to lift the crushing burden Of
taxation and cut down the cost Of living
and to deal fairly and squarely with
both labor and capital
The speech of the senior Senator was
enthusiastically received by Republican
leaders gathered from all parts Of the
State, northern New Jersey being
strongly represented.
Pertls OF League shown.
The peril forced upon the United
states by the League OF Nations adyo-
Gates was described by the Senator as
follows:
To-day we are facing a more des-
perate contest and a more insidious foe
than the founders of our party encoun-
tered in 1851. Forces within and forces
without seem to have entered, whether
sensibly or insensibly, into a conspiracy
which II successful will In the anal an
aiysis undo the work of the father of
his country and the savior of his country
as we'll: which will destroy the cher
ished principles of popular government,
gained through the Revolution and re-
affirmed as result of the struggle with
the South.
"As was the case fifty-eight years
ago We are called upon to take the
leadership in a great battle for popular
rights and for national unity, a more
monumental and more significant strug-
gle than that which our fathers waged
SO valiantly over half a century ago.
Almost as one man. the Republican
leaders, especially those In Congress,
sprang to the side OF the Administration
and gave It loyal and ungrudging sup,
port. from the beginning Of the con-
test until the close. With scafcefy a
Dissenting vote we gave the billiens the
Administration asked for. though we
felt persuaded that vast SUMS were be-
ing wasted because OF almost criminal
neglect and ignorance. Vast powers
were granted to the Chief pExecutive,
though wet questioned the coustItu-
tonality Of some OF the measures we
supported and doubted the necessity for
some Of the prerogatives demanded and
granted.
1T is true. we called attention. az
was our right and duty, TO Grass mig
management in some quarters AMI to
incredible delays. tragic In their con-
sequences, In others, yet all the treasure
and all the Powers asked for were given
In ungrudging measure. Now. with the
tragedy OF war at an end, the Republi-
can party must front a series of prob
lens more sweeping in character and
vaster in scope and consequences than
those which our armies were compelled
to face at Chateau Thierry. St. Mihlel
or the Forest of Argonne.
without a particle OF exaggeratIon
and with a degree OF solemnity which
l do not often resort to, permit me 10
say that I am persuaded our form of
Government IS seriously threatened with
dislocation and eventual overthrow.
Warns OF EntangIins Alliances.
Let me phrase my statement some. .
what differently and assert my belief
that constitutional Government in
America Is In dire peril. Not only is
such the case, but the most cherished
precepts of right action in their re.
lation to constitutional Government are
menaced to such a degree that only an
extraordinary effort on the part of pa
triotic Americans will save them from
humiliation. refer TO the Washing
ton dictrine, by which mean that great
statesman's advice against 'entangling
alliance and the Monroe Doctrine.
Reduced to naked, easily understood
language. these two doctrines mean that
America will not meddle In European af-
fairs, while Europe will not he permitted
TO NEEDLE in American affairs.
These essential principles OF govern
ment. which have enabled this country
to become conspicuous figure among
the nations of the earth, are about
to be thrown into the discard. II certain
men have their way, and. in addition,
II the programme OF these same men
shall prevail, without a recasting of our
Constitution. or resort even to Con-
gressionh enactment, our sovereignty Is
to be cast aside, like a threadbare gar
ment. and from henceforth We shall be
compelled TO obey the behests of a super
state.
That Is the clean cut issue set before
the American people. II that be so, do
we not face a crisis in our history even
more threatening than any incident to
actual warfare In 1917 and 1918?
I'm such crisis what is the duty OF
the Republican party? Shall We play
the role of opportunists? Shall we con-
suit and bow the knee to expediency?
Shall we grovel and cover and walt
for some piece OF good fortune to save
us from the enveloping tragedy which
beckons to us?
'Or shall we In the spirit OF our
sires, following no longer the lines OF
least resistance, repel this attack from
the foes OF genuine democracy and
scotch this serpent of un-Americanism
now and for all time?
Ancient Principles Repudiated.
From this viewpoint OF America