Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1919-07-03
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
(Rv John RnShl
"Will you walk into my parlOr?"


Said a spider to a fly;
"Tis the prettiest little parlour
That ever you did spy"
The League of Nations is the most
arduous proposition that the Amerl-
can people have ever been confronted
with, and in view of the fact that the
lives and the liberty of millions Of
people for which America has always
fought is so intimately affected 1t
should be given serious and thought
full consideration. Though those who
are so greatly in favor Of the adop-
ton of the proposition seem to be
embued with the idea that it is un-
patriotic and even reasonable to eX-
press an opinion in opposition to 1t,
this is not the true American spirit.
The first article of the ten amend
ments to the constitution of the
United States, declared in force Dec.
Is, 1871, reads: Congress shall
make no law respecting any estab-
lishment of religion or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof, or abridg-
ing the freedom of speech or of the
press, OF the right of the people
peaceably to assemble and to petition
the government for a redress of
grievances.
Too much discussion and time can
not be devoted to the consideration
of this great question. Many prom
inent orators and writer's are urgent
in their expression that because of
the fact that President Wilson, the
chosen representative of the people,
is in favor of League of Nations
that the people should stand back OF
him simply because he is the Presi-
dent
This may be the proper American
spirit, but lest we forget, it may be
we'll to mention the fact that George
Washington said IN his speech to
both houses of congress, Jan. 8, 1870:
"To be prepared for war is one of the
most effectual means of preserving
peace" and in his memorable fare
we'll address, Sept. II, 1896, counsel
ling the maintenance of the union,
confinement of the general govern
ment to its constitutional limitations
and avoidance of relations with for
eign political affairs, he among other
things said: at is our true policy
to steer clear of permanent alliances
with any portion of the foreign
world. The great rule Of conduct
for us, in regard to foreign nations,
is in extending our commercial rela-
tions and to have with them as little
political connection as possible. So
far as we have already formed en-
gagements let them be fulfilled with
perfect good faith. Here let US stop"
Europe has a set of primary in
terests which to US have no or a
very remote relation. Hence she
must be engaged in frequent contro-
N6lSlGS, IIlt CAUSES VI NIllSIl tNIC 10
sentially foreign to our concerns,
therefore it must be unwise in US to
implicatc ourselves by artificial ties
in the ordinary vicissitudes of her
politics or the ordinary combinations
and collisions Of her friendships or
enmities. Why forcgo the advantages
of so peculiar a situation? Why
quit our own to stand upon foreign
ground? Why by Interviewing our
destiny with that of any part of
Europe entangle our peace and pros
perity in the tolls of European am
bition and rival interests or caprice?
The advocaters of the League of
Nations are of the opinion that the
views of Washington, Thomas Jetfer
son and other such proficient men Of
their time were fitting to that time
but not to the present. 1t is true the
time that has elapsed since their
days, and the late war has made
many changes in worldly affairs, but
neither time or war has changed
human nature, and on this hangs the