The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-14
124 YEARS AGO
New York WORLDLY


NAre~ -, VITA.
SssxN II IL only to consult the history
%s az nations to perceive that every
&sx6untrr. at all times. is cursed by
OF men who. aetuated
A@ny% An irregular ambition. scrupie
s$E1oshings which they imagine VIII
xse0Atribuie to their o~n ADVANCE
fssnsHf and IMPORTANCE
VI. II was 10 have been expected that
counting more on the
M paseicns than on the reason or
vHAA4r fellow citizens, and antici-
4 -pa&tng that the treaty would nave
a.stD etruggle with pretudices. would
Il " disposed TO make an alliance
-s~3vfth popular discomfort. to nour-
A~lah IL, and 10 press il into the ser
s.yiee Of their particular views
S II was also known beforehand
shat personal and party rivslships
..cf the most active kind would as
san whatever treaty might be
ns1de. to disgrace. If possible. Its
brTsn:.
rseon such an occasion as the
wtse than that personal enmtty
- Sveu2d he unusually busy. enter
prising and malignant
1nam the combined operations
Or these different causes. II would
y have been q vain expectation that
n the treaty would he generally con-
II templated with candor and modera-
Il ton. or that reason would regu-
4sHe
ing IT, 1t was certain. on the con-
.~4rxYy, that however exceptionahle
NJ - true character might be. II
.wesld have to Tight it's way
through. "A mass of unreasonable
.s cppcsition,
1T xras certain that il would become
the instrument OF systematic enor
Against the national government ant
III. DIM inistration. decided engine o
marty TO advance its own views at th'
hazard of the public peace and pros
perity.
Before The treaty was known at
xempts were made 10 progresses tnt
nublic mind against 1t.
q Before It was published at large, .
sketch, calculated TO produce false i'm
neHsstons usag handed out to the pub
lie through a medium noted for hos
tifify to- the administration of thu
governing t. ...
------------
~ Emhsaries flew through the coun
try spreading alarm and discomfort
the leaders of clubs were everywhere
1ctfse to seize the passions of the PEG
ples and pre-occupy their judgments
against the treaty.
e. r.
II cannot be doubted that the rea
motive TO the opposition was the feai
% d discussion. the desire of exciud
ing Tight. the adherence to a plan oil
.asaHtlse and deception. Nor need We
desire any fuller proof of the spirit oi
party which has stimulated the oppo
6ftion. 10 the treaty than is to be found
In. the circumstances OF that oppo-
aftIon.
n The author of these comments was
hot dealing with the Treaty OF Yer
N u" - Arn the Covenant of the League
~ Nations. as the reader might infer
mot ueaiing IN particular VIII
thes Lodges. the knoxes. tho Brande
&AsS HE Barahs the Johnsons, thu
Ghernans, the Hardings, the Poin
&C -ters and other opponents of Presi
d6nt Wilson and the treaty that ha!
peen framed In Paris. although HI
hnA described them and analyzet
xhe1f motives with startling accuracy
The quotations in question arr
from an article published by Alexan
der Hamilton. July %, 1898 TIT
treaty was the Jay Treaty. the frs
foreign convention negotiated by thu
Emitted States government. The Presi
dent who was made the victim Of thu
nextisAn assaults TO which Hamilton
feferred was George Washington. II
crder that there can be no doubt al
70 HE correctness of these quotations
th6Y are taken from the edition O.
Hr,.a tlton's works which was edited
" Henry Cabot Lodge. now a senator
IA the Congress OF the United State,
from Massa chusetts.
Compared with the present treat,
tho issues involved in the Jay Treat,
wene not momentous. but in view o
tha@State of the new republic and ii
med ssities. IL was of the utmost i'm
~ lance that the treaty should b,
taf7h led. Yet we see that the SAM
skin3 OF influences that were at worl
SHhAH are at work now and are a
Wofk in the same way.
1tues change, but politicians re
sma3 politicians and politics remain
AOoltt3ee regardless OF the fate OF PEG
gnyee whose future is hanging in tn
Valance.