The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-29
THINKING 1T OVER.

their decision without regard to the decision reached b,
: any other nation.
Nothing is futile than the attempt by overzcaou
advocates of the league forecose consideration of the
matter by urging that other nations will be dspeased
injured by delay may take it into their heads to of
fer reservations of their if the United States should
be bold to define the extent to which it is willing
campaign ythese headong pungers and it is safe to
that he would prefer their silence to their speech
Mr.. Wilson is not asking the American people to snar
their minds shut before they understand the ques
tons at ISSUE On the contrary he preparing to go be-
fore them and explain many things that are not now
clear in order that they may understand fully the
why he is in favor of cutting away from the traditions
of the United States and embarking upon what he call
ian unchartered sea-" His reasons must be of the most
moving and conclusive character for no one is better
qualified to understand the depth and soidy of Ameri
can traditional policies and the necessity up to this hour
for maintaining American independence.
American membership in the league of nations is ar
American question: to be settled exclusively by Ameri
cans The other nations can do as they please Surely
the United States exercise the same freedom
Many points in the covenant of the league of nations
require calculation Just the Constitution was scru-
nzed and its possible operations carefully considered
the constitution of the world league must be scrunized
One matter barely touched upon to mind when the
history of the Constitution recalled 1t is the questo
of construction. Shrewd the Americans of the
old day. and wonderfully informed as they were in the
business of government they did not foresee the evou
ton by which the national government coming into bcne
would be the judge of its powers This power to con
rue is the power to create and the equally sweepns
power to destroy the creations of others.
Applied to the league of nations, the power to co
strue the covenant that no nation may successful
set up denial of the leagues judgment of its own pow
ers The United States might object to the leagues I'M
dersandngs of the Monroe doctrine but the objection
would be futile uMess backed by something more fore
than vote of protest The Monroe doctrine would be
what the league of nations construed it to be- not wha
the United States declared it to be-
The accreton of power through the constituting of the
covenant would probably be extremely rapid on account
OF the temporary urgency of dispute after another
which would call for exercises of increased authority
The apparent gap between the teagues power to decide
and its power to enforce would be closed within few
months, in all probability No nation within the league
could stay its hand and surely nation outside could
stop its growth.
The thought that the league will grow in power until
1t finally exercises absolute control over the relations of
nations is at the bottom of nearly every argument in fa
Vor of the league. 1t is kened to pulling infant which
gives promise of glorious maturity Gen. Smuts in out
lining the steps that should be taken in creating the
league was careful to suggest that the framework SHOULD
be loose and fragile at the beginning so that the natural
reluctance of nations against yielding their independence
would not be aroused into refusal to join He was willing
to trust to time the process of accreton of power and
the exclusive power of the league to fix its own mta
tons.
This one feature of the league deserves the careful
study OF Americans. Everything done must be done j.
good faith If the United States joins the league it mps
De in whoehearted spirit with desire to make III
eague successful in preventing wars It is this element
II good faith which hame those citizens who urge i'm
Mediate and unhnkng acceptance of the league on the
ground that the United States could always cast off if
mould prove undesirable There is danger also in the
plausible suggestion that the league be amended later
I 1t should not be harmonious with American ideas Rv
hat time the United States would not be exclusive mas
er OF Its own relationships 1t would have to consult
ther powers concerning its own action
The only time in which the United States will ever bo
hoy free to decide for itself what is best to be done is
he period before it joins the league of nations For this
eason the country awaits with eagerness all the nfor
nation which President Wilson feels at liberty to in,
Post In
Statistics as to of unconested divorce eases have
tile value -