Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-11-22
AMERICA AND THE WORLD

tirely out of tune with conditions as they exist today.
"There is no room for further compromise between
Americanism and the super government presented by the
League" the senator says. "AlI ask now is that we may have
the opportunity to lay those reservations before the American
people.
II do not see that there is one of them, 1.-THE reservations)'
the senator goes on to say, to which any American can object.
want the people TO see them, understand them, and think of
them in every household, on every farm, in every shop and FAC
tory throughout the land. Then let them decide
All of this is in the senator's usual spread-eagle style. II
reminds one of the days gone by when the Republican battle
cry used to be 1.-THE Old Flag and Protection and the people
were supposed to rally around the standard as II II would De
In American and unpatriotic to do anything else.
Those we're the days before the Spanish war when Amerl-
can interests were confined exclusively to the North American
continent. Our possessions had not even extended as Tar as the
Hawaiian Islands. Our industries were then actually IN thelr IN
fancy and we were so busy building up our own country hat
we hardly gave a thought TO the outside world, let alone part-
cipate in any movement that was of an international or world
wide character. Our affairs were our own ana WE were o IN
terested in the affairs of anybody else.
Senator Lodge is still living in those days. lie would have
America as she was then, an isolated nation identified in no way
with the great affairs of the world. His appeal in regard TO his
reservations is based solely on the eXcIuSlVeneSS Oh America.
These reservations would be perfectly fine and proper if we
could turn back the pages of history; build a stone wall around
the country and close ourselves in; shut our eyes and stop our
ears to the appeal of humanity; shirk our responsibility to those
depending upon US from the other side of the globe and other
wise consider ourselves the al-wise and self sufficient, living
in a little world unto ourselves and letting the rest OF the world
follow its own course as it may choose.
Then, indeed, would the Lodge reservations, which the
Republican senator's would attach to the peace treaty with
Germany, be highly appropriate and absolutely without OBJ
iections on the part of any American.
But the United States cannot go back to her Isolated po-
sition If she would. The Spanish war came along and made us
a world power. We obtained distant possessions and assumed
world wide responsibilities. President Roosevelt sent the
American fleet around The world to further impress the nation
of the earth of our Importance and standing.
Our business and commerce grew and expanded into all
parts of the world. The business of other nations became our
business. We insisted upon the "open door, in China and
forced Europe and Japan to agree. We built the Panama canal
and showed to the world generally that the United States has
come out of her shell; her period of preparation had ended and
that this great republic is a power TO be reckoned with III the
future.
Then came the great World War when Germany set out
to realize her great ambition to rule the universe. The United
States at once proclaimed her neutrality and tried to mind her
own business, as Senator Lodge would have her do. We were
adverse to be drawn into any European quarrel.
But from the very outset we were forced to realize that
we were no longer the isolated nation that we were before the
Spanish war. American business and commerce was at once
affected. We found that any great upheaval in Europe reached
across the water and directly concerned US. Our trade and
commerce was interviewer with the trade ana commerce OF
other nations. We could not escape. We had become too big,
too great, too important not to be involved in any world wide
agitation.
blood on European soil. Our Ambitions and hopes and de-
sires became identical with the ambitions, hopes and desires
of other great nations. We took our rightful place beside the
great democracies of the world fighting for the preservation
of the principles that we all hold dear.
In the meantime, America had loaned billions Of dollars
TO other nations. Gold kept flowing into this country until we
possessed nearly t%wo-thrds of the wealth of the world. Prac-
tically all of Europe owes us money and we must extend our
credits even more than before if rehabilitation is to be &C
complished in the impoverished countries abroad.
Out of our vast resources we have got to produce goods
and then give credit to Europe that they may use the goods we
have to sell to them.
All of this binds us even more tightly than before in the
affairs of the world.
Having so much money invested in foreign countries, i
is to our interest to see that those who owe us money and will
whom we do so much business, have peace and prosperity. We
cannot lend our billions Of dollars and give unlimited credi
for the production of our mines. our factories and our shops
without being vitality interested and concerned in the affairs o.
those to whom we lend money and extend our credit.
Being thus so thoroughly involved in world affairs we can.
not pull back and live exclusively unto ourselves as the Lodge
reservations would have us do. We have got to play our full
part, Senator Lodge and his appeal to exclusive Americanisn
notwithstanding. If we are to play that part, what better way
could be found than through a League of Nations that would
regulate all international affairs, our own along with all the
rac40