South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-17
JUNE II. 1919.
THE KNOX CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD
.BOI SHENISM."

The purpose OF the Knox resolution before the
senate is becoming more and more apparent. II IS
.ncipient rebeuion-against the constitutional pow
ers OF the president 10 neg0tiste a treaty; senator
iaI Interference. calculated so hamper the execu-
tive in the exercise OF his constitutional functions
The senate has been Iong-the Observation-Disclosures
side OF the senate.-in criticism Of the president,
all during the years or his incum5ency, because of
his persistency in recommending certain measures
TO the congress. but that has been q constitutional
right. and constitutional duty Of the president
while nowhere in that document Is the congress
empowered 20 interfere with the functions Of the
executive. by ITS advice or other wise.
The senate Is not obliged 10 ratify the presidents
treaty negotiations. if it does not want to. That is
within its constitutional powers. Interfering with
or embarrassing the president. in his negotiations.
however. is a different matter. such interference,
or attempted Embarrassment. as now undertaken.
is akin TO the reasonable; localized treason, eXer-
cised under the cloak Of ohicialdom. II is as pro-
German in effect as the speeches of Berger, Debs.
or any Of that Hk. could possibly be. Talk about
aid and comfort to the enemy" What, just now,
could carry greater JOY to the Germans. than the as
Surance that the treaty-raufying body in the United
states viii not confirm the treaty Of Paris. which is
the price Germany must pay for her part in the
war; will not raufy it until all the teeth conducive OF
enforcement, have been taken out OF it?
Bat this is not the worst Of the criminalty. In
these days when the air is unchanged with dyna-
mite: when in the midst OF almost universal un-
rest. anarchy. bomb-plots, and bolshevik attempts
TO overthrow civilization are rampant and the
visest statesmen Of the world are seeking a way
out by which that civilization can hang together
and be saved. that politics Of SO cheap a sort should
be considered by men Of intelligence, or INDUCED
10y politicians who pretend 10 be sane. renders the
criminaHty or il doubly criminal
There are crimes. YOU know. that are not listed
in the codes There is a higher law today, same as
there was in the DAYS of William Henry Seward.
and we are not very far from facing a similar sort
Of "irrepressible conflict The man Of the street who
condones the conduct Of the traitors in Washington,
becomes "particeps criminis' under that higher
law" and II the "irrepressible conflict" results. open
ing the way to bolshevism and anarchy TO swallow
the world. the curse will be upon his hands as
much as upon the wings Of his guiding stars. II
there ever was a time in America for sober thinking
IL is now. and the man who cannot raise in patriot
ism above his partisanship. is of the same brand Of
mentality. and prejudice OF soul, as the German
American who in the mids Of the war, could not
raise his Americanism above his Germanism
The League Of Nations covenants constitute a
treaty and that is an there is TO IT, Tt is a treaty
among the free nations Of the earth, made to en-
force the peace Of the world. II may not be perfect.
nut treaties as well as TAX and tariff laws. are open
20 improvement. and this one as az present ar
ranged. Is the best that the minds assembled in
Paris have been able 10 evolve. or course. II such
super-egoists as Messrs Lodge. Knox and Hi John
son. etc. including some OF the ourbstone diplomats
of the woods. had done the framing. il would he
infalHbie. but it wasn't their lot. They would sell
heir country for such a mess Of pottage" as what
they imagine might net them a partisan advantage
in more public unrest, distrust. ETC. and so they
are indulEing the sale~manship. 1, is the gist Of the