The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-05-10
HOW US, RANKS
IN WORLD ARENA
All Recognize Fact Country Re-
sorted to War to Put an
End to War.
AMERICAS TASK IS mot over
Cash and Credit Of People Must 81
Extended, Peace Conditions Re-
constructed and Sacrifices Will
Be Necessary.
Nv SENATOR JOHN SHARP VIII
LIAMS,

BY SENATOR JOHN SHARP Will.
LIAMS.
What is the position Of the United
States as government and as Z
people upon the international arena
right now? How shall it, or how can
1t maintain that position? Is the 20
sitiOn worth while?
The first question is very well an
swered by the magnificent reception
that has been given to the president Of
the United States in England, France.
Italy-wherever he has been-not only
by the spokesman Of the governments
there but by the people themselves.
who In applauding him expressed their
affection for the American people. the
American republic and it's ideals.
The present position Of the United
States in the international arena IL
substantially this: 1t Is a demand not
merely for cessation Of war in so far
rs the present war goes, but termina-
ton Of all wars in so far as human in
genuity can determine It. think We
might say that it is all based upon
the love Of justice, confidence in mercy
and the reasonableness Of brotherly
love. We did not fight this war merely
to whip Germany; although we mad
to whip her before we could do any
thing else; we had to whip her to Z
finish, and we had to convince the Ger
man people that thy were whipped.
We did tl-at so fully that the German
people fell to pieces even before the
German army in it's retreat (Which in
the last six days almost amounted to
a rout), had confessed defeat. We not
only did that, but prior to that AUS
tria had collapsed. The armies Of
the allies, with headquarters at Sa-
lonica, had destroyed Bulgaria; Gen-
eral Allenby had reconquered Jerusa-
the British army had taken possession
Of Mesopotamia the Turk in Europe.
had been virtually removed; the Turk
In Asia Minor had had his power
sapped. Even before the armistice.
came. all over the balance Of the world
much more emphatically than upon the
western front, came the liberation Of
the peoples-Arabs, Jews, Armenians,
Jugo- Slavs. Czecho- Slavs. Poles, Lithu-
anians, Alsace-Lorrainers, Schleswig-
Holsteiners-why continue the enum-
Grafton? II our sole object had been
ITO defeat the Hapsburgs and Hohenzol-
lerns and to make a treaty Of peace
with them and with the sultan Of Tur-
key, none OF this would have hap
pened.
summed up in one word, is "the liber-
alton Of subject peoples" and 1.-The de-
struction Of autocracy" and "the con-
quest Of war" as a permanent policy
by temporarily making war ourselves.
Why United States Entered the War.
Now, If the conquest of war and
autocracy and militarism is merely
temporary, we have made this war for
very little. I take 1t that in the hearts
OF nine out Of ten American boys who
fought in France, and Italy. and Rus
STA there was desire to do this thing
now in order that it should never have
to be done again. We resorted to war
to put an end to war, If we could. We
resorted temporarily to universal con-
scription for military service In Amer
lea, in order that universal conscrip-
tion for military service all over the
world might become unnecessary and
cease to exist.
Now. how are we going to maintain
this position? Was Uncle Joe Cannon
right when he said that I'VE contend
ed for peace without victory, and now
we have got victory without peace"l
He will be right IL the cynics views
ohall prevail. He will be right IL we
cannot make contemporaneously with
me treaty Of peace some agreement
tmongst sufficient number of respec-
able nations to make terms effective
MICH shall render the conditions Of /
ace permanent, and remove, in nine /
ses out of ten, the causes Of war.
Aleague Of nations does not depend i
70 how many nations enter into it;
Ices not depend upon details. It |
ends upon these fundamental prin-
IS:
rst, that sufficient number of ma
sufficiently respectable and pow
shall willingly agree with the
freedom behind them, that no
ed nation shall make war upon
without previously having
proposed or accepted arbitra-
IDLY, that IL any civilized nation
AXE war upon another without
wing proposed or accepted ar
that nation shall be regard
Nc beyond the pale of civili-
IT'D regard to traffic and trav-
xmaterials cut off, and shall
ec0mmon enemy Of mankind
overs its sanity.
take that position In the
erence? Shall we on the
block 1t by cutting off dis