Omaha daily bee., 1919-09-16
Covenant Is Called
War Trust by Johnson

Continued From Page One.}
held in cruel subsection like the ko-
reans or Chinese will ever be striv-
ing for their liberty and the self-de-
termination for which we talked SO
much and did so little. 1t means
that the great democracy of the
world-our country-must not only
continue a party to the denial oi
these peoples rights whenever they
are asserted, but to our diplomatic
denial we will add denial economic
ally and by force of arms, too.
Il am not quarreling that our al.
lies make Germany pay the full
price," continued Senator Johnson.
Fears Secret Bargains.
~ do quarrel with requiring OUT
treas sure and our blood for all time
in the future to preserve the spoil;
of war to England, France, Italy
and Japan under secret bargains
which in bad faith were concealed
from us during the war. During
the war we, properly and rightly
made every sacrifice. We are de-
handing now at its close none of its
spoils, but in the name of America
let US at least refuse to be treated
as part of the spoils. Out of the
war Great Britain comes with su-
premacy of sea unquestioned. By
the treaty she has fourth of the
earth's surface and an overwheln-
ing preponderance of the peoples Of
the earth. Great Britain proudly
contemplates out of this peace q
British world. Shall we. who mel,
Their ask nor get anything from this
peace, guarantee this British world
with our wealth and our man power
France and Italy and Japan emerge
with territories beyond the widest
dreams of their statesmen, and it is
| demanded that America shall TN,
derwrite all their immense aces
sions.
I'VE have been told by the presi
dent that we must now by thi:
league of nations make the supreme
sacrifice and throw in our fortune
with the rest of the world Why!
The very query evokes from league
enthusiasts Immediately an angry
retort, and, while they will not en-
tighten us, they hint darkly at oul
motives and even our good faith.
Are Partly True.
occasionally we hear that w.
have at least entered upon a worlc
career, that we have become a par
of world politics and that we can
not now either withdraw from the
course into which the war drew US
or desert the world which so need;
rs. In the language of a famou.
editor of the west;-'All of this i!
partly true but it by no means es
tablishes that we must surrender ou
cherished position or our lovee
ideals by becoming a party to thu
sordid quarrels and the diplomatic
duplicity of Europe and Asia. Thu
United States will play its prouc
part in the world in the future a.
it has done in the pasta par
prouder because based upon Amer
lean principles and American ideals
1t did not require secret treaties ant
stealthy bartering of unwilling PEG
pies to make our nation play it.
part in the war; It GOES not require
the guaranty of secret treaties ant
bargaining and bartering of unwill
ing peoples to have the nation pla,
its part after the war. Throwing OF
our fortune with the fortunes of tn
rest of the world means with our al
truistic brethren throwing our for
tunes to the rest of the world tina
the rest of the world may do witt
our fortune as it sees fit. Gladly will
we do what duty commands and hui
mainly and civilization may require
but that duty can be better done. GU
obligations to humanity and civiliza
ton better fulfilled in the high posi-
ton of the worlds greatest democra
cy than in the subordinate position
of the least consequential of quin
tuple alliance, or as one of man,
bound irrevocably to the guarant,
of the many's power and territories
League Of Armed Nations.
This is not a league of nations
to prevent war. It is a league Of
armed nations in a gigantic wal
trust. In its very creation it has
been stripped of every idealistic pur
pose it ever had. 1t contains within
itself the germs of many wars, and
worse than that, it rivets, as in the
Shantung decision, the chains o.
tyranny upon millions of people ant
cements for all time unjust ant
wicked annexations. 1t is a great
world economic trust, wherein a few
men sitting in secret may control thu
economic destinies of peoples. 1t is
not league of peoples nor does il
anywhere concern itself with PEG.
piles whose past wrongs and future
rights were so eloquently portrayed
by the president. 1t is trust oil
existing present power. 1t will never
prevent war, it will sanctify power
in new, a terrible and sinister
sense"
Senator Johnson left for Siou,
Falls, S. D., where he speaks to-
morrow night.
To afford the interior connection