The Irish standard., 1919-09-20

Sept 22, Monday-St. Thomas of Villanova.
Sept. %, Tuesday-St. Linus.
Sept. "a, Wednesday-Our Lady of Ransom.
Sept. Is, Thursday-St. Finbarr.
Sept. 20, Friday-SS Cyprian and Justoria,
M. NJ
THE LEAGUE ISSUES TOO FUNDAMENTAL
TO BE DEALT WITH IN A TREATY.
One of the striking features of President Wilson's
cross-country run to insure the ratification of the
League of Nations is his demonstration of spirit
of combativeness that has hitherto been somewhat
latent in his temperamental makeup. He brands
the Senators who are leading the opposition to the
League as "cowardly CUTTERS in the international
game in which America sat universal peace
maker. They are characterized pygmy mymind-
ed' and lacking in the vision and altruism that
would enable them to perceive i'll the new covenant
a panacea for all the ills of international relation
ship. The President is quite sure that the League
formula constitutes the specific remedy which has
been sought by the political doctors throughout the
centuries for the persistently recurring tribuatons
of war. If the Alembis of the covenant possesses
the attributes Claimed for it by its proponents, that
it is the philosophers stone by which the base and
selfish qualities of the peoples and nations are to be
transmitted into higher and nobler feelings in rela-
ton to another it is but fair that the burden of
the proof of this proposition should be assumed by
its advocates, for these claims run counter to the
experience of all human history.
Recently statistcian has made study of the
possibility of its eradication from the world. He
finds startling and stubborn facts that not
calculated to afford much cheer or comfort to the
League proponents During the Christian era there
have been 45l mai wars one in every 4M years.
During the last 800 years England has been at war
41o and France 373 years. In the Twelfth century
England was at war 81 per cent of her time and in
the Nineteenth century about the same percentage.
The percentage for France for these two centuries
are 36z and IS. For the 800 years closing with the
end of the Nineteenth century the principal nations
of Europe were at war 81 per cent Of the time and
at peace 4S per cent.
History, therefore, would seem to prove that
is probable than peace in any given period of
time, despite the various prophylactics that have
been devised to avoid it. 1t is therefore Cup" to
those who would have it's Republic underwrite the
new patent medicine for the old disease overcome
by their arguments the violent presumptons exist
ing in the against them, otherwise their propo-
sition deserves and should receive an adverse judg-
ment at the hands of the people.
. The suggestion merely that we "try it" may prove
costly and embarrassing experiment, since the
new-fangled connection may prove not only not
harmless but positively injurious. It may leave us
much worse off than if had never touched it,
1t may have the effect of so paralyzng our senses
and volition that never recover normal
and historical attitude in relation to international
affairs.
It is to be regretted that the issue presented
in the clear and definite form that it ought to have
The American people should be given the oppor
tunity to register flat yes" mo" on the League
for its acceptance or rejection 1t seems to be
sumed in the United States Senate and in many
newspapers and other publications that the only
question involved is whether to enter the
League with or without reservations and amend
ments. Only few of the Senators have taken a
fiat stand against the covenant and their
intention to reject the whole proposition. Never
theless the issue should and doubtless will be joined
in this direct and straig aight-orward manner before
the matter is finally disposed of. In the coming
presidential campaign it is quite apparent that the
cleavage of the electorate will be these lines,
if the League is jammed through the Senate, with
or without reservations. 1t is hardly conceivable
that in such government such radical
without a direct expression of the people on the
matters involved. Let us not be driven into the
morasses of world politics by timidity or hysteria,
for the supposed new war cure may be worse than
the disease ITSELF
President Wilson's combativeness, is some
times said of repentance, too late 1t should
have manifested itself at the peace table in Ver-
sailles several months ago, while the diplomatic
game of world politics going on, rather than
now his cross-country in the interests of the
League. He should have shown something of his
& present pugnacity in procuring hearing for the
representatives of Ireland at the peace tribunal He
should have taken stronger stand against the
spoilation of China. He should have fought more
strenuously for his fourteen points, and espe-
cally for the principle of selfdetermnaton for the
& weaker nations against alien domination
That is not to disparage the good that he has
done. It must not be forgotten that his pronounce
nents in favor of the principles of right and justice
B influence in the uplift of mankind; and they will