Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-08
LOWELL
DISCUSSES
LEAGUE OF
NATIONS

~. snea king before the Society Of Arts
end Science at the Hotel Bfltmore.
,,rpedE<the formation Of a league OF
nations in order that justice might pe
attained in the world.
There are n or two Ilcuit
which confront US when we CONSIDER
the formation of a league OF nations,
he said: people ask, OF n q
tions shall such a league consist Inc
orranization which I belonged to TOT
| three and a half years has X great
mains not to answer that question, oe.
iieving that the answer wouio depend
largely upon the issue OF ms WaI.
| and I believe that the war mas settled
that issue.
nerfect world, would undoubtedly be
! one where all mankind was organized
! into free nations n all were pound
toeether in a great league OF human1-
ty. But one does not begin with per-
lection. One begins with existing
things, and it is surely obvious oda
that the only nations that initiate
a. league of nations are nations that
have won the war. They may let IN
others whenever they prove them.
selves trustworthy, and we hope that
! many nations will prove themselves
trustworthy, but it is not necessary
to go too far at once.
Now I want to a k up TWO 81
three objections very commonly sug-
rested to a league Of nations. One is
that washington never did so IN MS
day. Now, what did George Washing
ton do in his day? He tried to prevent
war. For, mind you, before the adop-
ton of the constitution, we were very
close to war between many OF the
states, and doubtless war would have
come. He tried to prevent war by
.,,.1l;~r %bDco cfofoo fnonthar in Qnch
a way that they would not fight with
one another. That was as far as it was
wise for him 10 go.
but, do you realize that at that
time New Hampshire was further
from South Carolina and less likely
1 mean in terms of travel and meth.
DDS of communication and distance
and time for covering that distance
New Hampshire was less likely. if we
had been separate states, to be drawn
into a war between North and South
Carolina than we. arc to be drawn
into a war between Russia and Ger,
many today? 1t has happened. That Is
just what we are talking about at this
moment.
What Drew Us Into War.
I'VE. were drawn into a war which
began between Russia and Germany.
We are nearer nowadays. and there is
scarcely any part of the world so re-
mote as the two ends of those thirteen
colonies were. Let me say this: Wash
ington was a great man, because he
looked at the facts of his day in the
face, and we are only worthy to be
his descendants if we look the facts
Of u day in the face.
"The second objection which is
raised is this: 1t will interfere with
our sovereignty. 1t has nothing what
ever to do with our sovereignty. Peo-
pie say congress has not the power to
declare war or refuse to declare war.
CONGRESSES power to declare war or not
to is not in any way affected. We
simply agree that in certain conditions
we will declare war. but ngr is
not bound'to do it. 1t does not inter-
fere with congress in the least. 1t does
morally bind congress to declare war,
yes, certainly, every treaty morally
binds the country to do something.
"A great change that has come
from the middle ages is the change
from status to contract; from the
time when the relation of things was
fixed by the accident of birth, to the
time when man regulates his relations
to neighbors by contract. Contract
means limiting your freedom of action
in consideration of some one else linz
iting his freedom OF action. And tits
by reason Of contracts that the world
is able to advance.
More treaties, each of them bind
ing the country to do or not to do
certain things, have beer made in the
last fifty years than in all the history
OF the world before. Why? Because
countries have found it was worth
while to bind themselves if others
were so bound also.
0 there is a third objection that
| want to take up which is ALWAYS
brought forward. How about the big
and little nations? Is it seriously sup
posed that any one is going to allow
nations in a league of nations-to al
low nations like Guatemala. for IN
stance-to have the same votes an The
United States? 1t is easy enough. in a
consideration like that, to say it is
absurd and throw it down. But no
sensible person would believe that
vas to be done for one moment,
I'VE are told again that our men
VIII nave to go and fight in every broil
n Europe. But, surely, the object Of
the league of nations is to prevent
broils in Europe. If the league will
mo prevent them then it is a failure.
But does any one doubt that q. leagua
made OF the great nations of the earth
lean stop n broils in Europe? The
OBJECT or such a league is to prevent
wal. ~ course, II the league will not
prevent war then it is a failure. Rnt
it will. out
tor World Dcccncy and Order.
a man cannot be an orderly citizen
IN a dlsorderly community. and the
u with us in the present day is
nat certain nations are trying to be
oroerly and decent in "a disorderly
conoluon OF the world. The nations Of
the world are in just the same sit,e-
ton that you would have been in =
frontier town of the olden days. when
II was necessary for you to carry -
pistol. There is only one way to ston
". and that is to make the world an
orderly one. oil
And 1 want to ask you. are the re-
this sort of thing bound to reneat it,
sen every little while? Are the most
civilized races in the world going ~
Try TO exterminate each other With
yer increasing ferocity and ever.in..
creaslng ingenuity Of weapons? Ia the
MANHOOD OF the pext century to be de-
ed we can be? VIVA
ARE we to develop the one horror
lnat did not take place in this war
y was talked of. and that ia ssTcn'
plns polsoned>bombs from airnIane,
on undefended citizens? Or. il 4 no.
slo!e, Is 1T uncomfortable. is It fnni1v
.o\say mat the world can be brought
uhie staee OF peace and orderliness in
MMic1 scraps between the nations ~.
cur no more than scraps amonr tho
1nhabitants of the town Of New York ,
Is that part of dreams, Of fancva And
f1l that can take place, shall We .tand
Sy n say, 'ciyilize il you can but
co nr9isssG snl Teant1in II H; Gliding. Of
position to the league Of nat;nn! IN op,
snat II any attempt was made To- crs.
a.e a league Of nations with ieri.is-
i've 2 executive powers. the isss,s -
nUvs,e.sn!y you'd have to be decided