The sun., 1919-08-07
A Great Methodist Churchman Ex.
poses Mr.. Wilson's League.

A Great Methodist Churchman Ex-
poses Mr.. Wilson'S League.
The Rev. THOMAS BENJAMIN Nicely,
a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, whose labors In behalf Of
sound citizenship and good American.
ism have brought him reputation no,
second 20 that his services to his
Church have earned for him. has
written and published an analysis Of
the League Of Nations into which
President WILSON Is endeavoring 10
force the United States which for
clarity Of thought, moderateness Of
phraseology and soundness Of politi.
cal doctrine must command the re-
spectful attention Of all thoughtful
students OF our affaira
Bishop Nicely approaches the prob
lens involved In the project for
league Of nations In no spirit Of an
tagonism. His professional training.
his ministry Of many years duration
here and abroad, his observations Of
the horrors Of war. all unite to predis-
pose him to champion any practicable
plan that may be put forward for the
preservation Of honorable peace. Yet
with the most charitable disposition
he 10 unable to support the scheme
for which President WILSON, arrogat-
ing to himself a representative ca
pacity he was not entitled to, bar.
tered and compromised in the dark
in Paris. Bishop Nicely reaches the
conclusion to which other straight see.
ing Americans have been forced after
study Of the covenant. that II sets up
supersovereignty intellectually men,
acing to the independence Of the
United States, to which the American
people should never give their assent,
much less pledge their active material
and moral support.
We cannot in this place adequately
review the careful and painstaking
analysis of the history of the Wilson
League rs Bishop Nicely has written
1t from available official data, the ad.
dresses Of men In public life, and the
columns of the newspaper and peri.
odical press He has gone desply---
as deeply a. the secrecy maintained
by President WILSON will permit any
American to go---lnto the record of
this singular enterprise. With scru.
pulous care he has given due weight
to the aspirations Of idealism, and he
has not allowed himself to be preju-
diced by the fact that occasionally
even ideallsm must compromise with
existing and potent conditions. But
he has refused to be blinded to the
facts or to discard his knowledge Of
men and nations in his Consideration
Of constitution designed to regulate
the relations OF men with their fel.
lows. Good sense marks his inquest.
and good sense marks his rejection OF
the Wilson league and his plea 10
his fellow Americans to save them.
selves from II.
Having recalled the splendid his-
tory Of the United States as a power
for the good Of mankind. Bishop
Nicely declares that ANY power or
combination that seeks in any way 10
control the United States of America
SO as to destroy Its political indepen-
dence, In any sense or In any deEree.
should be instantly and eternally re-
jected, and any proposition that In.
wolves this should DO spurned. and
that with contempt" Then:
the so-callsd League Of Nations
implies such q proposition and In
wolves the destruction OF Independents
and the loss Of national sovereignty.
and therefore should by every true
American be Immediately and en-
phAtlcaily refused"
Considering the possibility OF
amending the covenant, Bishop NxzIx
wisely says:
1T may be said that the league
may be changed. but no matter what
changes may be made in It. Is long
as It retains the governing feature
Its real character IL not affected.
ARTICLE X. may be removed. and
thu Monroe Doctrine may be better
guarded, and yet thsrs will remain
many things that make me nation
in the league . subject nation under
the government OF the league. and
a long ~ these things exist and
the governing element persists. ths
member nation has lost Its sOvsr-
eighty.
THAT Is the essential feature Of