The daily morning oasis., 1919-11-12
DEFINING A RIGHT CLEARLY

w porter all along of the policy OF President
w Wilson, and his attitude upon the peace
treaty with the Covenant of the League of Nations
and would stand for its ratification without amend
ment or reservation yet, on careful refectlonaNlt
does seem that the reservation that Senator Lodge
succeeded in getting adopted Saturday by a very
decisive vote 80 to 35-a clear ma orty of the en-
tire Senate) will not hurt the treaty the covenant
of the league; it could and may great deal OF
trouble. ...sf ~
=. The reservation adopted provides that in the
event that the United States desires to withdraw
from the leao1e it shall be the sole Judge as to
whether its obigati1ns under the covenant have
been fulfilled; and that notice of withdrawal may be
given by concurrent resolution of Congress.
na Mr.. Wilson clai ms that such reservation is
unnecessary; but even though unnecessary 1T does
not hurt to have the reservation set forth explicitly
Looking back over the history of adoption of che
Constitution of the United States it is percievable
that by failing to have it understood plainly ad-
vOcateS of the right of state to Secede forced
to put up losing contest, and finally were ridden
over roughshod in the shock of battle. The first
proponents of the doctrine of secession took it for
granted that such right was left to be exercised
whenever any state so desired In fact they had
the best of authority George Washington, who
presided over the deliberations of the conven
ton which framed t1'e Constitution, and Alexander
Hamilton no was one of its most active members
both went on record to that effect. Washington
was in writing in letter to a friend who had ad-
dressed letter of inquiry; and Hamilton replied
-
York convention which ratified the instrument
Both stated that if state found it's rights nfringed
upon in the proposed Union it, could withdraw.
And it is very likely that neither Virginia nor New
York would have ratified wi 2out that declaration
at one place. and the letter in another ct when
Virginia tried to withdraw from the Union, with
several other states, New York and several more
states would not let her. In vain did Jefferson Davis
81 and Robert E. Lee appeal to the dcta of Alexander
Hamilton and George Washington that state had
= the right to secede. Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses
S. Grant said state had such right. Lincoln and
Grant put over' their case. Davis and Lee failed.
'' Then, had Virginia and New York ratified the
Constitution with reservation of the right of
secession, recognition CT T. ct right would have
been right in the record, and could have gan
said it. But as was taken for granted the dicta
Of Hamilton and Washington, the whole question
was left open All admit it is better that was left
open; but that is reason for leaving this ques-
ton open. - 81
= In the present case, those who have voted to
adopt the reservation cited are closing the door
against any possi lie misconstructon in the future
The right to withdraw, and the right to constitute the
terms of withdrawal from the League of Nations is
reserved to the United States. Senevty-five years
hence the United States will not bbe trying to get out
from distasteful alliance upon quotation from
a. speech by President Wilson that the rights
sought for exercise are implied Those rights
rights will be defined in the reservation embodied
in the resolution of ratification.
't~ IS gS gS g5 IS IS
Attorney General Palmer warns us Of impend-
ING industrial disaster in the United States. Quite
superfluous Mr.. Palmer. The whole country un-
derstands the situation and apparently doesn tcare
a rap. DULY collapsed stomach will wake this ma
ton up.
.@... S. Us IS SIS IS w. --'s o.
Human guilt cannot go beyond the crime of
those who precipitate And what should be the
punishment?