Catoctin clarion., 1919-08-28
LEAGUE FULFILS
AMERICAN IDEAL
Ker'}ert Hoover Says Democra.
c;es Replaced Autocracies
at Our Bidding.
FOOD ADMINISTRATION CHIEF.
Urgrs Ratification on Ground That
Pace Treaty Will Collapse
Without League Of
Nations.

ccrI"d over the opposition to the
League of Nations in the United
States that he has let himself be in
terviewed at length on the League sit
uation. In talk with the New York
Times correspondent in Paris, tn"
Food Administration Chief asserts th:.>
having caused the League idea to pre-.
vail America canEot abandon it. We
cannot withdraw, he says. and leave
Europe to chaos. '''rO abandon the
League Covenant now means that the
treaty itself will collapse"
Mr. Hoover's wide acquaintance
with conditions both here and abroad,
his reputation as an administrator, a
man of great affairs who deals with
facts. not theories, make his state
Inent one of the most important con-
tribUtions to the recent League discus
sionS.
There are one or two points in con-
neciion with the present treaty." said
Mr. Hoover, that need careful cOnSid-
ernlinn by the American public. We
need 10 digest the fact that we have
for IA century and half been advo-
eating democracy not only as u
remedy for the internal Ills of all So
cirty. but also as the only real safe
guard against war. We have believed
and proclaimed, In season and out
thul IL world in which there was a
free expression and enforcement Of
the will of the majority was the real
basis of government, was essential for
the advancement of civilization, and
:haI we have proved its enormous hu-
uau benefits in our country.
American Ideas Have Prevailed.
I'VE went into the war to destroy
autocracy as a menace to our own and
all other democracies. If we had not
c"ir" INTO the war every inch of Euro
g,"an soil today would be under auto
cratic government We have imposed
our will on the world. Out of this
victory has come the destruction Of
the four great autocracies in Ger
many. Russia, Turkey and Austria and
ihe little autOcracy in Greece. New
hemocracies have sprung into being in
Poland, Finland Letvia, Lithuania,
E',ii., MA, CZechOSlovakia, Greater
Serbia, Greece, Siberia, and even Ger
many and Austria have established
.lthjnrratic governments. Beyond
flies" "A host of small republics, such
as Armenia, Georgia, AZerbajan and
others, have sprung up, and again as
result of this great world movement
a nf nj
and even England, have made final
ascent to complete franchise and de-
mocracy, although they still maintain
a symbol Of royalty.
1--WE have been the living spring for
ilis last century and half from which
these ideas have sprung, and we have
triunphed. The world today, except
for comparatively few reactionary
and communistc autOcracies, is dem
ocratic, and we did it.
"A man who takes wife and
hlesses the world with several infants
cannot 90 away and leave them on
the claim that there was no legal mar
rage.
"1hese infant democracies all have
political, social and economic prob
lens involving their neighbors that
are fraught with the most intense
friction. There are no natural bound
aries in Europe. Races are not COM
pact they blend at every border. They
need railway communication and sea
outlets through their neighbors terri
GOry
"NIany of these states must for the
ncxi few years struggle almost for
bare bones to maintain their very
existence. Every one of them is GO
ing to do its best to protect its 1WS
interests, even to the prejudice of ita
neighbOrs.
Governments Lack Experience.
eve in America should realize that
democracy, as stable form OF govern
ment aS we know it, is possible only
with highly educated populations and
large force of men who are capable
Of government. Few of the men who
Compose these governments have had
any actual experience at governing
and iler popula lions are woefully H.
liieraie.
"rhry will require n generation of
actual national life in peace to de-
velnp free education and skill In gov
ermHrnt
"Unl, IS these countries have a guild
Ing hang and referee In their 4uarrels,
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