The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-18

gional understanding for secur-
ing the maintenance Of peace
1T Is difficult to speak calmly or q
perversion such as this. II Is hard to
conceive of any man traditioned IN
Americanism lending his sanction to such
a monstrosity. Never before has the
Monroe Doctrine been mere measure or
spineless pacinsm. 1t has until now been
a strong means OF self-protection and
self-preservation. It was designed first
to preserve our own life, liberty, happi-
ness and institutions. and next to pre-
serve the liberties and institutions OF our
sister republics of the western world that
government Of the people, by the people
and for the people should not perish from
the earth. 1t was aimed to keep mon
archy from this hemisphere; kings,
princes and emperors were to have no
place on this side of the world. But UNI
der the new doctrine, IL Mexico should
agree peaceably to allow to japan
strip of her western territory, II Guate-
mala should make an alliance with Great
Britain, or Brazil with Germany, or Ar
gentine with Italy. or IL they should
grant to them regions or strips OF ter
ritory or concessions or zones OF In
fiuenoe, how could we say that a re-
gional understanding for securing the
maintenance of peace had been violated?
Would not tho answer be: No hostile ac-
tivity has occurred, none Is contem-
plated and none shall occur unless YOU
yourselves. America, undertake or
threaten them7 And IL we did threaten
them, no matter how great the menace
to our existence they might ultimately
prove, we should merely bring ourselves
within the restraining hand OF the whole
league itself.
American People Stripped.
'-The Monroe Doctrine In its covenant
form is a sanction and an invitation
to colinization by monarchies Cone OF
the precise things TO avoid which the
Monroe Doctrine was declared), for IN
the great emancipated brotherhood which
the league processes to set UP, what
brother can accuse his fellow OF &c
ignoble a thing as a design upor the
power and integrity of his own domin-
Iona thing made holy by the league
Itself?
"Thus, sir, one question which the COW
enant presents for the solemn consider
alton Of this body and for the matured
elaboration of the American people .is
the question whether or not we are 70
surrender the Monroe Doctrine as II
now is. and adopt a doctrine. misnamed
Monroe, such as IL proposed. Are we
not entitled and are the people not en-
titled to whatever time may be heces-
sary for our reaching wise determine
ton upon this natter
"One further point and shall have
enumerated all which the necessities OF
the present occasion seem to require
that 1 shall mention. The criticism lev
elled at the first draft-that It provided
no method by which a member once
a party to the league could withdraw
therefrom-has been met in the new
draft by a provision that any member
of the league may, after two years no.
tice OF Its intention so to do. withdraw
from the league. Provided, that all Its
international obligations and all Its OBJ
legations under this covenant shall have
been fulfilled at the time OF its with
drawal.
at Is difficult to believe. Mr.. Presi.
| dent, that there is not here some error
in wording: that those who drafted the
provision have failed to understand the
meaning OF the negotiators for IL would
be hard to draw a provision which pur-
porting to give right TO withdraw
should at the same time make with
drawal so completely and absolutely i'm
| possible. No nation may withdraw un-
less at the time OF its withdrawal
! notified two years in advance. all Of II:
International obligations and of its obli'
| cations under this covenant shall have
been fulfilled. and the party who deter
mines the question of fulhiment or nc
fulfilment is the league itself from which
| the nation is to withdraw.
Are We or are We not entitled 4
time 10 deliberate whether It is wis,
that We tie ourselves in a covenant
| which so completely binds US to the will
! or within OF other partners? For IL mus
| always be remembered in respect o
| these things that affirmative action BY
! the council-and release from the leagu,
would, l take 1t. be affirmative action
| must be unanimous. and any one powe,
in the council. whatever its motive anC
| whatever its ends, might under this pro
! vision\as It stands make us permanent
! members OF the league. our will to tn,
! contrary Notwithstanding.
| For almost a century and half on
! foreign relatives have been trained I,
: meet the principles OF that political re
/ liGion which Washington laid down /,
| his Farewell Address. his benedictioI
! upon the nation to which he himself haC
! given life.
| End OF New Path Hunted.
The covenant now proposed CALL
| uIoH W u dDanuOn tneSe principles
which he thus laid down and undel
which we have prospered. Is It an un
reasonable request TO ask that befor,
they be discarded We shall have tim.
to weigh the consequences and discover
so far as possible the end of the new
path we are about to begin to tread?
J And here let me again state my alb
horrence of war. with all its attendan
woe, misery and crime loathe It more
than I loathe anything else except thai
which Is worse than war, because deare1
than life, namely, the loss of our honor
and our freedom. for unless we are SUM
to such ignoblity that We had rather
! live slaves than die free men We mus
face the grim reality of fighting 10 live
But we do want 10 blot out the miserie,
of the world as far as we can. We d.
want to live free and happy, enjoyinl
the association OF our friends and kin
dred. Therefore. whatever there Is o
good In the league We want to save. an,
the whole people want II saved. Blu
we must have the opportunity fairly e
decide what Is worth saving
/ ITO deny hearing in n cause is con
| trary to fundamental principles o
Anglo-Saxon law. To deny a hearin,
In this cause is to give substance TO tn,