Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-03-28
Hushes CsnstruetivsIy critieixss.

HVSheS ConSSfueSiVo1] ~TN'e'xes'
Criticism worth while and from a
source that is dependable! Crit
icism that is constructive and fills in
where weak material is torn out from
the SHUTS structure. Criticism that
has been needed for weeks, while the
peace treaty and league Of nations
have been held up by restricted views.
selfish designs and stubborn deter
mination to have ones own way.
Charles l.. Hughes. former as
soc;ate JUSTICE of the Supreme Court
Of the United States. in an address
a, New York. "Wednesday evening.
offered seven amendments to Ameri
canize and stabilize the league of EA
tions covenant.
league OF nations are very s0licitous
for the future OF this country. They
remember nothing Of the pas; and
mold their busbears from the clay Of
their own morbid imayininss. Only
evil. according to them, can come of
any attempt to avoid worse than we
have already gone through. They
would not spend cent or surrender
the slightest revision of policy to
tie up the trouble breeding nations to
something better. They fear" for
the Monroe Doctrine and the result
Of "entangiing alliances. Never
mind what our beautiful isolation"
and freedom from European
wrangles" has cost us, maybe we
wouldn't have to get into it next
time. OF course their narrow con-
cep,ion of the utility of the Monroe
Doctrine and Washington's advice is
worth far more than the 80 billions Of
money and 10000 casualties that our
rush TO the aid of down -trodden hu-
manity cost us. They would have
military pot boiling. lu. the war
irones and by so doing force all other
nations to do the same. That seems
TO be their hope and aim.
But we believe that at least 90
per cent. OF the people Of this coun-
try and probably more than that of
every European country engaged in
the war, are firm in the faith that
the leading powers of the earth can
get together upon plan that will not
only prevent war but will prevent
the carrying of the worse than use
less load of support of great armies
and navies because of fear Of each
other. Even such as Mr.. Borah must
admit that if ornaments are
cquitably reduced something will
have been gained, and certainly
America can then reach a war foot
ing as quickly as any other nation.
Everybody has sense enough for that
and even the most prejudiced and
those most determined to destroy all
chance of an effective league because
it would interfere with certain in
terests. must know that al the
common people, are aware of
Americas ability to measure up at
any time.
The fair, honest, common sense
people. then, are for helping to build
league that is solid and just Such
people believe that such a league is
not only possible, but that if it is
not produced somebody is bound TO
sup sorrow for rendering the high
idcalism Of the American masses
nugatory. We believe it is not only
possible but that good start has
been made, beginning superior to
any that could !ave been produced
by its critics if their words thus Tar
concentrated ability. Lodge. Knox
and Hughes have ehown how and
whore the present covenant can lie
strengthened. Mr.. Hughes has offer
ed seven amendments which. if in
corpOrated. would make the present
covenant a workable league cons.i.
tuition and safeguard American doc
trines, tenets and precepts.
If President Wilson had sent Knox
Lodge and Hughes to Paris in place
Of House. Wilson and George Creel
and had remained in Washington ia.
stead Of leaving everything soaking
in the suds Of war. the United States
would have felt safer under any
league covenant produced at the
reace conference. But he did neither
Of these, and 50 it becomes the toi.
OF the American people to back the
U. 8. Senate In securing, finally. a
league and q peace Of Justice.
Il take o most solemn oath that the
{.OyArnment will not surrender tn tn,