Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-07-18
THE ISSUE

The treaty is now before the Sc.
nate of the United States for its
ratification or rejection. The presi-
dent returning from Versailles has
reported the results of the labors
of himself and the other members
of the American mission at the
peace conference, to the American
senate. Exercising its constitutional
function the senate must now ratify
amend or reject the treaty. The is
sue is squarely before the senate
and the country. The only point
about which there now appears to
be any controversy worthy of much
consideration is the League of
Nations.
When this country entered the
war it was for the accomplishment
of certain definite aims and in the
defense of certain principles of right
and liberty. The average American
laborer who kept at top-notch the
industries of the country during
the hostilities was working toward
a definite and unselfish end. The
average American citizen who did
what he could for the cause, invest
ed his savings in the securities of
the nation and gave of his means
for the commonweal was striving
for the accomplishment of certain
fixed purposes. The heroic women,
the mothers and sisters of America,
gave their sons and their loving
labors for the perpetuation of Ger
tain inalianable rights of mankind.
The average American soldier was
an intelligent man. He knew for
what ne was fighting, and he gave
his all. and crossed three thousand
miles of perilous and submarine-in-
tested water to fight for an ideal-an
ideal the accomplishment of which
ne believed to be possible. There
can be no doubt that all of us believ-
ed we were fighting a war against
War. We all had in mind that when
the victory was won there would
arise new civilization builded I'D
on the sure foundation of brother
hood and guaranteed by a league
Of free peoples that should for all
time stand as a barrier against the
encroachments of these who would
make us but pawns in the hands
D. selfish governments. The old dip
lomacy the old order, the antiuuat-
ed system of international balances
known as The balance of power"
has been tried. 1t was so unstable
that so insignificant an Incl lent as
a couple of shots from an automatic
pistol in the hands of maniac fired
IN a second rate city of South Cen
trail Europe completely upset the
who.e OF the world, plunged us into
an Inferno of blood costing the lives
ot zo'oOo,OOO people, vitality affect
ng every being on the globe. and
or time threatening to overthrow
civilization itself and to revert the
race to the forgotten dark ages. The
Did order has been tried and was
Inc comple.est failure history re-
cords. For Gods sake isn't it time
% try something else? 1t couldn't
possibly bring any worse results
The questionis being ask of what
We nave to do with the people of
'ther countries. 1t is the same ones
Ion Cain asked the Almighty soon
years ago when he said Am Inv
,rOther's keeper" Bes;d.. Am:
s now grown to mansize among the
nations. No longer can we hone 70
Keep ourselves aloof from the rest
u mankind. mo man liveth unto
llmself alone" The last war is snf-
hclent proof that we cannot refuse
o accept our responsibilities 90 .
irst rate power. We were inevitably
lfawn in then. Inevitably we would
be again. 00u
Our labors, our means were given
'ur prayers and our sacrifices woro