The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-02-28
TWO SUPREME QUESTIONS

The supreme issue now before
America and before the civilized worlt
may be expressed in two questions:
1. Shall there be League of Ma.
tions, to promote peace and advance
the welfare of humanity?
2. Shall the constitution of such a
league, submitted to the Peace Con,
ference at Paris, be accepted and ap-
proved, subject to such amendments
as may make it more safely and just
ly workable?
1t is first to be decided that q
League of Nations is desirable and
necessary. That decision has been
made by the chief representative of
the nations, assembled in Paris for
the settlement of the issues of the
war. This decision, however, had
been reached and announced by the
heads of the allied powers several
months before America entered the
war. In reply to President Wilson's
suggestion of December Is, 1916, that
the belligerents state "the terms upon
which the war might be concluded and
the arrangements which would be
deemed satisfactory as guarantee
against its renewal or the kindling Of
any similar conflict in the future"
the entente allies declared that "they
associate themselves with all their
hopes with the project for the creation
of a League of Nations to insure
peace and justice throughout the
world" 1t is not, therefore, with
them, nor with the American Govern
ment, a conclusion reached since the
war ended, but the result of a con-
viction arrived at through long and
deep reflection impelled by the stress
of universal conflict. That much is
accomplished. The men of these No.
tions who have been chosen, by rea-
son Of their wisdom and judgment, for
supreme leadership, are unanimous in
their decision that there should be Or
ganized cooperation for the prescr-
yation of peace and the promotion of
justice.
But are they right in this revolu-
tionary conclusion? No man, howcv-
err high, however wise, is infalliblc,
and in this matter the opinion of man.
kind must be in accord with its lead
ers if great results are to be accomp-
lished The world must be also con-
WINGED that this thing is not only
right, but essential; that it is not
merely a movement of eXpcdiency,
but of necessity. And by way of help
to the study which we think every
American should give to this domi-
nant question, we reprint the state
ment issued Sunday to the American
people by William H. Taft, Henry
Morgenthau, A. Lawrence Lowell and
Henry Van Dyke:
"The war against military autocra-
O CIV has been won because the great
free nations acted together, and its re-
suits will be secured only if they con-
tinue to act together. The forces
making for autocratic rule on the one
hand and for violence of Bolshevism
on the other are still at work. In 80
wears the small State of Prussia so
organized Central Europe as to defy
the world. In the present disorganiz-
ed state of Central and Eastern Eu-
rope that can be done again on still
larger scale and menace all free ma
tions.
1.-THE death of millions of men and
the destruction and debt in another
world war would turn civilization
backward for generations. In such a
war we shall certainly be involved,
and our best young men will be sac
rificed as the French and English have
been sacrificed in the last four years.
"Such catastrophe can be precent-
ed only by reconstruction of all the
small states now seeking self-gov-
eminent on the basis of freedom and
Justice, but this is impossible with
out league, for, divided, its mem
bers are not strong enough for the
task.
"By the abundance of its natural
resources, by the number, intelligence
and character of its people, the Unit
ed States has become world power.
It cannot avoid the risks and must
assume the responsibilities of its po-
sition. 1t cannot stand aloof, but
must face with confidence in itself its
future among the great nations OF the
earth" " ,, =.
This is an expression Of the convic-
y ton of four great Americans, men OF
broad vision and practical statesman
ship. who have studied this matter
profoundly and patriotically. They
and other Americans Of high intelli-
gence and great influence viii be in
st. Louis today and tomorrow to
SPEAK on this subject at the Midcon-
tfnent Congress of the League Of Ma
lions. All should hear them and give
thought to what they say, for it is an
issue of definite and individual i'm
portancc to every citizen of this coun-
try.
The second of the two questions
presented at the beginning of this ed.
itorial will be the proper subject Of
general discussion for some time, and
this paper will consider it in detail,
but the first question is the main ques-
ton until. it is observation-disclosures
crat. II 6asi az
It isiweH torecall the words Of the
late Senator John ]. ingalls,, uttered
4 4 E~~<xw Ia