New-York tribune., 1919-02-23

next twenty-four hours. With him he
brings an Offering to the country in the
form of twenty-six articles of the league
Of nations.
The country has already begun to look
the gift horse in the mouth. The Presi-
dent has asked that the nation be silent
until he has had an opportunity to ex-
nlain. But despite his injunction there
has been much comment pro and con.
Is this proposed league, as Josephus
Daniels stated a week ago, "almost
as simple as one of the parallels Of
Jesus and almost as illuminating and
whiting? Is it, as the President him
SELF has declared, "a union Of wills
which cannot be resisted and which, 7
dare say, no nation will run the risk of
attempting to resist? Or is it what
Senator Poindexter has termed it, in
spite Of the Presidents injunction to
silence, ga delegation and transfer Of
sovereign powers to an alien agency?
Are we "facing an abyss" to which
the American people should not be led
"blindfolded"? Secretary Daniels has
said that eff this consummation of a
world league had failed, the war would
have been fought in vain, and the lives
given would not have won glory which
can never fade" Which Senator Poin-
dexter has contradcted. eve are now
asked to avoid war;" said the Senator
at the end of his speech before the
Senate
w multiplying immeasurably the cause
drar and by surrendering to q hetero-
saeous league of divers races our SOW
asIgn rights and privileges. By such
course the independence which was pre-
served by the patriotism of our people and
the heroism of our soldiers in the fighting
/ which has just been concluded will be
surrendered and the guarantees of peace
which victory has afforded us will be
mortgaged to every nation in the world"
On the other hand, when President
Wilson saw the members of the press
/ after the league had been drafted,
Clinton W. Gilbert in a dispatch to
i THE New York Evening Sun" says he
was
in mellow, jesting MOOD" and "unbent
as he had never unbent before, and talked
ssyy even about the personalities Of the
conference. He evidently was happy at
B Tie result. He hopes to win enthusiastic
h support for the league from the American
public on his present trip"
Mr.. Gilbert goes on to boldly assert
that the league is not a war preventa-
tive. "The thing" he writes
is not what Mr.. Wilson had in mind when
he made his speeches in Washington.
Much of the dealism has evidently
sssporated. AS a mere question Of practi-
eai'ty it was impossible to realize fully the
'nings Wilson pictured in his speeches.
sutution Of the league recognizes this
laet and provides what to do in case Of
vii be war. The French are so fearful
u war that they are dissatisfied with the
PROVISIONS Of the league for Frances
safety"
The New York Times" believes that
incmentous, perhaps the most mo-
mentous forward step in the history of
''s'azation has been taken, declaring:
The hopes of many generations are to
realized. 1t is no somnambulism, no
'a'fen idcality' to believe that this as
s'slated peace force of the world will
s"k. The consensus of will and power
/ -ss slI that Was ever wanting The years
~s's 70 1918 have awakened the associated
"as'isncs Of mankind 1t is not worth
sass 10 keep up the forms Of social
fs'"7' is not worth while to live, IL
i - sfeaehcries and horrors Of that time
s :" be allowed again. At last, self
sssvation has beaten particularisn,
ss@'shsy and desire for aggrandizement. We
Se without too keen a sense OF ito
'ss'y the turning point, the renaissance.
saving of civilization"
resident Wilson'S Injunction To Con-
sssss 70 avoid public discussion Of the
sss or nations covenant until after
RsfSgnal explanation of tha vavir.,~