The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-06-13
The PEOPLES ANALYSIS.

ling of the enemy, and the maintenance OF peace! 1t
the tendency of Americans-very propery-to presume
that their representatives acting wisely well as
loyalty and therefore, unless the work of these rpresen
tatves palpaby unwse, criticism begins under the
heavy handicap of the peoples predsposton in favor of
their own servants President Wilson has enjoyed the
confidence of the American people few Presidents
have enjoyed it. He retains the confidence of unde-
termned number of Americans His worst critics cannot
bring against him the charge that he is trying to accom-
psh anything but good His loyalty to his own ideas OF
right and duty is unquestioned His skill diplomat
has been brilliantly demonstrated He has easily dom
mated concave of the worlds chosen men, and this fact
alone has been matter of pride to millions of his fellow
countrymen.
Any American who dsagrees with the proposals com
prsed the of the league of nations should base
his disagreement sound and logical reasons not upon
any personal criticism of President Wilson his methods
at Paris If the league of nations is the panacea 1t SAID
to be by supporters if it is the best practicable means
of helping the world to and hold its equilibrium
it should be supported by every fair-mnded American
without regard to such incidents the attempted con-
ceament of the treaty from the public the alterations
from the fourteen points, the discrepancies between the
published summary and the suppressed text, the unvary
ing policy of seshness pursued by every nation except
the United States, and the violations of Americas
traditional rule against entanglements in Europe The
welfare of the world and the restoration of Europe are
more important than all these
Conscientious and dgent study of the proposed plan
IN of is
ing increasing opposition from patriotic Americans Why?
Are they mere parsans trying to embarrass and dscred
Mr. Wilson? Some of them may be, but all of them are
not Are they narrow little Americans" unable to sym
pathze with the stricken sister nations of Europe! Some
of them may be, but they very few for Americans
went into the war and through the with hearts full OF
sympathy for the victims of Germany Hungary
Bulgaria and Turkey.
The solid reason why Americans reaching conclu
sion unfavorabe to the league of nations is, in our opn
on that they have found it to be different from what
thew hoped and expected it to be- They have analysed
it. with the KEEN penetrating scrutiny which crystazes
into that Invaluable judgment called public opinion" 1t
does not sand up under this analysis 1t is not what it
pretends to be- 1t involves the United States in many
kinds of possible complications, hut it does not insure
eitherpeace good will among nations 1t requires the
United States to subordinate its free will and its control
Of its foreign policy council composed of eight for
eigners and one American. This council will recon
mend" and advise and propose to the President and
Congress of the United States what this nation should
do and thereupon this nation must comply with the coun
cs suggestions or be guilty of violation of its word of
honor.
The people are studying this question carefully
than any other that has been presented to them in the last
so years. The interest in the proposed reorganization OF
the world is universal Some arguments put forth by
advocates of the league have aroused septcsm concern
ing the league ITSELF notably when distinguished travel
ing lecturer insists that the council only recon
mend" and advise and propose to the United States
government what it should do leaving his audiences to
infer that the United States can easily break faith with
the league of nations whenever it fit to reject the
councils suggestions. That does not appeal to honest
Americans If they finally decide in favor of the league
they will favor it intellectually, and not with the
tai reservation that they will break faith in case the
league proves irksome. The United States must not join
the league in the German style
Another argument put forth from the same dstin-
Gushed is that unless the United States accepts
the treaty and the league without amendment, the
try will lose business with Germany. Other nations will
have made peace with the Huns and will be entering into
commerce with them, while America will be standing
points of tradition honor and losing money by delay
With due respect to the author of that rgument sug
gest that it would appeal far forcby to audience
of Huns than audience of Americans. The league of
nations is not proposed money-making scheme, and
its advocates should not try to make appear that Amer
leans will lose money if they do not accept It, Too much
emphasis the financial advantage of the league of
ton and the treaty may give rise to the belief that there
is substantial foundation for the charges banded