Bonners Ferry herald., 1919-09-23

integrity l,i and political independence Of
al members OF the League. And IL is
presumed that all nations will ulti-
nately Join the League. This guar
anlee, tnls pledge to preserve. car
res win II our financial. our econ
onic ana our military power If anv or
an Oh these are necessary. Who is 10
auVlse and direct the method and man
ner OF fulfilment? The Executive
council If the territorial integrity
Oh any nation is involved or the poli-
ucal independence of any state is
threatened, or if there is a threat of
war anywhere, this League has the
autnority to advise as to the means
oy which the obligation we have in
CURED is to be fulfilled. Whether
the territorial integrity is based upon
Justice upon righteousness, whether
the cause which would disturb IL is a
Just cause, or whether there is CON
science and decency behind it. we are
nevertheless to preserve the terri
torial integrity. and we are to follow
the advice of the executive council
as to how it shall be done. AL
though the Executive Councils ad-
wee might be regarded as vicious and
unwlse, as characterized by Ignorance
and selfishness, by the many reasons
which often lead those diplomatic
combinations to foment war, the peo-
pie would have no voice whatever
nor any power to review their action.
II the executive council should advise
that the United States should send
one million men to protect the terri
torlal integrity of China, or Great Bri-
tain in India, or of Russia in the ST.
Derias, we would be under contractual
and moral obligation to act, although
we might regard the whole scheme as
unjust unconscionable
The point which I make is this:
that there is ample power for this Ex-
ecutive Council to foment war as well
as to promote peace. Evil-minded
men, selfish, corrupt men. ambitious
and militaristic men, could bring on
war much more easily than the men
who instigated this war, if they
saw fit to do so. There is not a word
in the constitution which restrains or
limits them. Their law is their dis
cretion or their will. There is no way
to check or control them on the part
of the people. They are there so far
as the constitution is concerned, for
life, with jurisdiction equal to that
which the Kaiser coveted and as free
from restraint as it would be possi-
BILE for nine men to be.
When the Fathers organized this
government they thought it necessary
to put check upon their Representa-
tives, upon their Senators, upon their
President, not only in the way of
counter checks but in the way of lin
tied service. But we are here pre-
senting to these few men, whom the
people can neither elect, check or con-
troll, power, which if in the hands of
evil disposed men could bring on a
world war at any time.
Suppose this Council were in session
over the question of preserving the
territorial integrity of some European
power. The United States would on
ly have one vote. Europe would have
three to five votes at least. Asia
would have the balance in all proba-
bility. The policy could and would
likely be determined by aliens and
our people would be without any re-
course whatever.
Let us take another illustration as
to the want of democracy in this con-
stitution. The territorial status of
nations of today may under. the law of
change and progress be wholly differ
ent tomorrow. A subject nation may
want its freedom and the United States
might sympathize with it. But there
is no provision or any possible clause
under this constitution by which the
principle of self-determination could
be applied. If by reason of the internal
disturbance with a nation threat of
war" should arise or if that which the
Executive Council might choose to re-
| gard as a threat of war should arise
they could call into action the eco
nomic or military forces of all mem
bers of the League to put down the
disturbance. There is ample power
and ample authority under this con-
stitution for any Executive Council
to crush out any movement for free
dom or independence on the part OF
any subject nation or any, small ma
ton. Certainly a constitution for q
League of Nations ought to have some
where a recognition of the rights oi
the people and a chance for them tc
be heard upon the question of peace OF
war, and recognition for the right fol
every DtOplt III Il pcdtclul way u
choose their own form of government
and their own method and manner OF
living
This is not in fact a league of peo-
pies or a league of nations. Il is q
league of diplomats, a league of i'm.
perialists, of a few great powers as
against all the rest of the world. II
is a league of the same breed of mer
and the same official caste which has
brought sorrow and suffering to Eu
rope for these centuries. 1t is al
autocracy, irresponsible, unchecked
and uncontrolled by any action or any
authority of the people. And it is
an autocracy based in the last analy
sis on force.
I speak in the utmost sincerity anC
wholly free from personal reference
and I declare that it is the most per
feet scheme to eliminate the voice anC
the influence of the people from thu
question of peace or war, that has ye
been proposed.
The power of the Gar over his sub
| jects, the will of the Kaiser in hi
II Ouyr EafharIand these were had ant