American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-03-07

traditions Of ours. Maybe it is all
right for us to trade these things
away for the other things that are to
come out OF the Peace Conference.
But is 1t right for Mr.. Wilson to give
them away without telling US about
it-without indeed quite letting us
see clearly just what he is doing?
Ought we not to have discussion and
debate and elaboration before these
things are done?
OF course the principal thing, OF
at least the most obvious thing, that
Europe covets and which Mr.. Wilson
is trading away is our /
read in the London Daily News:
1T is to America that we must look,
not only for the disinterested motive,
but for the unexhausted power. II
the redemption of Europe les left to
Europe, the chief burden will fall on
England, and England's
resources have gone with the rest"
But the more important things OF
ours that Mr.. Wilson is trading away
are intangible. For example, / am
able to infer with reasonable accuracy
that Mr.. Wilson the other day told an
English Journalist that:
THE breach with the Washington
tradition (the doctrine of Washing
tons Farewell Address) is not incl
denial, but final. President Wilson
has no doubt on that subject. He
understands that"
Now, IL the President says that pri-
vately and in confidence to this En-
glish journalist, is he also willing to
say it openly and publicly to the
American people? The President
knows it is to be assumed from this
that he is today making a final and
II may very well be hat 1t Is wise
and well to trade these things away In
exchange for the benefits of a pre-
sumably higher but still INFESTED dis
~pensation. But in the way Mr.. Will
son is going about 1t there Is some
thing a little too much like a coup
d'etat. He has no franchise to trade
away these things of ours In order
to get those concessions which are
the Wilson victories" of the Quai d.
0rsay. He has been given no such
commission by thos who are the real
owners
irrevocable breach In the Oldest ira
dltion of Americas relations with the
world-not only its Oldest tradition,
but it's most fundamental principle.
But do the American people know it?
Does the Senate know 1t? Does Con-
gress know It? On the 22nd of Feb
ruary, as Congress, in accordance
with its most ancient custom, listened
to the reading of Washington's Fare
we'll Address, did the members who
reverently took 1t in know that Mr..
Wilson had drawn his pen through
the most important words that the
address contains?
1t is the same with the Monroe Doc
trine. 1t Is the same with our right
to protect ourselves If we wish
against the invasion of America by
foreign ideals of life and social re-
lations and standards of living. II
, is the same with other privileges and
) i%mmunities that we have long found
5 useful and safe.
! While Mr.. Wilson is at home some
means should be found for making
him not merely give an account Of
G his stewardship while in Europe, buI
I also answer questions as to how anC
8 by what authority he is disposing o
things which are not his, Of which h,
. is merely te trustee. 1t may be tina
= IL is to Americas advantage to Civ
Q these things up. Or 1t may be tina
9 even If II is not to our advantage w
7 ought to do 1t anyhow as a sacrifice
in the interests of the rest of tn
world. But IL this is true, We ough
to be convinced of II before the actiol
is taken. Understanding should pre-
cede action.