South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-22

We have no right 70 discuss this
great question of league of
nations i'm the irresponsible. selfish.
detached. not TO say disiocated man
ner of certain senators who frankly
ignore all moral considerations.
America is first i'm our hearts, but
I America does not stand alone in
the world 1t was Germany whose
statesmen proclaimed that nation
has no ethical obligations that the
moral law is not binding in politics,
that national necessity knows no
law. our own great leaders have
ALWAYS abhorred this abominable
/ doctrine and the people Of the
/ United states have upheld them.
/ The American doctrine is that
nations have moral responsibilities
mot only TO God but TO one another.
( There are certain obligations of
good faith and fair dealing which
lare as valid in national as in per
sonal life.
"Entangling Alliances"
All Of our great presidents have
acknowledged this i'm explicit terms
none more clearly than Washing
ton. whose farewell address has
been so often quoted and nisin-
terpreted in this debate. Nowhere
/ i'm that address will you find
warning against "entangling ALI
ances" Washington never used
that phrase. What he warned US
aga inst was permanent alliance with
one party or another in conflict OF
| European interests. But this IS
| precisely what our entry into "A
/ league of all free nations TO main
tain peace would prevent. There
/ fore Washington would have been
! in favor of it. had it been presented.
lust as he would have ridden in an
automobile had il been invented.
Consider one paragraph from his
address. 1T will be worthy" says
he. "of free, enlightened. and. at
no distant period. a great nation.
to give TO mankind the -magnani-
nous and too novel example of a
people always guided by an exalted
Justice and benevolence."
! Precisely SO. The idea of
/ LEAGUE of nations is based upon JUS
ticc and benevolence. For our sup
port of that idea we have three
\ fold responsibility.
Ability Measure of Responsibility.
! We are responsible. i'm the
words OF .'The Star-Spangled Ban
liner" To The power that hath made
land preserved us as nation
( Ability is always the measure Of
responsibility. doubt not that the
reason why God has committed
such great influence to America, Is
( i'm order that she may bear her
IrightfuI share I'm this glorious task.
The power which lie has given US
/ is not of one talent. but OF ten tai
ents All the more shame TO us
I If we hide il i'm the napkin OF indif-
| ference. or bury it i'm the deep hole
of national selfishness All the
I more honor To rs II we use il Alright,
and follow Washington's advice by
giving TO the world the example Of
\ q great republic devoted 10 justice
\ and benevolence.
- We are responsible for our
entry into league Of nations 20
our soldiers and sailors who helped
TO win This war against war. How
gloriousl- they fought How much
we owe them L was speaking some
DAYS ago from the rear platform
Of the car 10 crowd of meh in
little town M Montana. 7 asked
the question. what did our boys
fight for N This war" An old
gray haired workman Ga the crowd
answered. with strong German
accent. ITO smash lie kaiser
like TO kill him myselluf" \ sturdy
young fellow in khakf beside him
said. we fought 20 make peace or
earth"
Both answers were correct The
first object has been fulfilled at
least in part Der Kaiser ist
Ikaput" But the second object has
not vet been fully attained.
shall They Have Died in Vaine
Who that has seen war sace 90
face as 7 have seen H. the wrath
and horror Of il on the fighting
line. the cruel wreck and anguish
OF IT in the ruined towns and wasted
countries Of France and Belgium.
the inexpressible pain and torture
OF il in the faces and on the bodies
AZ the innocent non-combatant'