The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-07-16
49, te !. i, -. :
PEACE TREATY
BEFORE SENATE
Pres. Wilson Presents Treaty
and Explains Necessity For
League of Nations
is ONLY HOPE
FOR MANKIND
rs ONLY HOPE
The Enlightened Nations Must
Unite to Enforce Justice and
Prevent National Crime

enant was iaiQ before lHe SSiiit tt 'S
President Wilson today in an address
accounting to the country for his pafs
in the negotiations ct Versailles Ihe
league, declared the president. was
born of the conviction Of practical
statesmen that an international con-
cert had become world necessity 20
. end the old order and guarantee CIV
nization. He> asserted that in such
concert the world looked confidently
to America for leadership and added
that while the treaty might not be e
actly as the American celeS@t!o-!
would have written it. no vital prlnc'-
pIe had been sacrificed by the neces-
sary compromises.
The senate, already divided IN a Bit
ter fight over the league proposal, re
.ceirea the president with cheers AMI
listened to his words in a grave ssl-
euce. When he had concluded there
was another burst Of cheerirs until he
had passed out of the chamber and
had gone to his capitol Office where he
talked for an hour with senator's wac,
wished to ask about specific features
of the treaty or Of the negotiations.
In these conferences the president DIS
cussed freely such subjects as the 9.s-
position Of Shantung, the German IN
IDENTITIES and Irish freedom.
In his address. however. there was
no direct reference to many CT the
questions around which senate debate
has centered, the president declaring
he could not construe details OF the
treaty in short address. He did not
directly mention the Monroe Doctrine.
Shantung, or the Obligations assumed
under Article 10 OF the league cove
nant, nor did he allu6e to the pre-
posal to write reservation into the
ratification. He asserted a hope that
he would be given opportunity to dis
cuss details later. either with the
whole seaSte or the foreign relations
committee.
"My- services and ell TIE ;nforma
tien I. possess said MIR. N.i!scn, Wit
be at your disposal and at the dis
posai of your committee on foreign re-
-lations at any time, either informally
or in session as you prefer; and hcpn
that you Will not hesitate to olake
I
the president asserted, was ended: 81
years ago when the war with S.,;e;'l
put the nation in partial control q
Cuba and the Philippines.
But we have not exploited them.
he continued eve have been ,1e:;'
friends and have sought to se~:-c
them 3 .. There can be 70 :4ue.5-
ton. of our ceasing to he q world
power. The only question is whether
we can refuse the moral leadership
that is offered u.s. whether we shall
accept or reject the confidence of the
world 8 .
The stage is set, the destiny dis
closed. 1t has con1c about by no Pen
OF our ccnceivins bat by the .kaId OF
God who has led ~ into this way.
We can not turn back. We can only
go forward, with lifted eyes and
freshened spirit, to follow the vision.
Abiding to the sl:cptic;Sin With
which the plan for League cf nations
that as the peace negotiations pro
ceeded. it would become apparent TO
all the delegates that s1ca 2 concert
was practical necessity. Demanded |
by @all the peoples Of the world. i'c:
the United States TO reject it. be as
serted, would tbreak the heart OF t;;.,
world" Pointing cut that minor coln
promises were necessary to secure
the support OF al. the Interested ia
tons. he continued:
The treaty. as q result, IS n1t cE-
actly what We would have written. Il
Is probably not what any orc of f:l.e
national delegation wou.G have wit
ten. But results were worked oCt
with on the whole bear tcst I
think that it Will be found t'lat he
compromises which were accepted is
::revitab,e nowhere cut 20 the heart
Of any principle.
: IN disregard Of precedent. the sen
ate received the address - open se5-
SIGN and afterward ordered tn, III
treaty be pubiish",,! in TIC cong:,os
sional document. The galleries wee
overAowing and crowds unable to .,aiy
admission waited il, the rain 10 cI>cer
the president when he arrived and de-
parted Nam members Of the horse
CTQVCCU jN(O tIIt,@ r.. u j--'t s'.tt'.-'t
chamber and most OF thc members of
the cabinet were seatee: near the vice
presidents desk.
z Speaking from the same platform
where 80 months ago he astonished
fi1e world with his first declaration
fer a league of nations. the president
read his adress slowly ard n a clear, i
quiet voice. His manuscript type
written on small pages. ne h@;1 in his
left hand and ::ith his rieht be ppPc-.
tuated his utterauces wjti: an occ5.
S. s.onaI gesture. Before h:G on She
vice presidents desl. lay the treaty.
brought by him in person from E's:'- /
stiles.
There was 10 attempt at ora,ory an.'
no applause interrupted the aGdf'e>s. (
Nearly every senator was N hi;i se-..,
and all listened "tteatjvciy. Af'"l'-
ward his supporters were unsti2t"a q
their praise for the presidents words.
while those opposed eithc. declined u
comment or declared be had dealt on!;i
in unsatisfactory generalities.