Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1919-03-04
THE PRESIDENT AID THE
LEAGUE

E410USnA Oh OANtTbs 1sa NAklIsSsA VI A10At-
official life. In his own party or out 81
Ii, President Wilson appears 10 BIG
moved by complete conviction IN All oi
liis utterances lpon the soundness oi
the position oE the United States with
reference to the League Of Nations
AT this point IT may not be asniss e
say that members of congress and 9th.
ers have d perfect right to disagree
With the president, and that opponents
og The entire proposition and plan FOR
League os Nations may be Influenced
81 IS exalted regard FOR me national
interest and the world welfare as
those who accept the presidents state
mont Of the case unqucstioningly and
enshusiastlcaliy II needs only to be
added here that because Of The fore.
sight and wisdom he has displayed
tiaraughout his public life, because oi
hls comprehensive grusp on world
vide popular needs. aspirations, and
demands, and because Of the conf
dence his course has inspired among
tho leaders Of all other nations.
friendly or ,infrlendly Ia the country
which he represents IN the Peace Con-
ference. the president'a i opinion and
counsel are certain To carry extraordi-
nary weight III the United States.
The tendency of the American pub
lie Is 10 trust Mr.. Wilson fully. and
this trust has been strengthened by his
continued assurance that In the con-
summation OF the covenant which he
is prepared to sign ii behalf Of his
country. every cherished tradition,
ideal, and right of the United States
viii be safsguarded. Within the last
week. as 1t III reply to- the doubts that
have made themselves manifest. not
only III speech but In manner. he has
asserted and reasserted his Arm con-
viction that In no particular does any
provision Of the charter Of the league
couaict with the United States con-
atitution. He has made II plain, to
those InQuirlng with reference TO such
points, that he has given his closest
attention OF The league charter to the
organic law and traditional ideals, Of
the nation. Moreover. although an ac-
Il Aowledged authority himself on con-
stltutional questions, he has sought
and obtained the advice og eminent
lawyers with regard 10 all doubtful
or aehatable points.
There appears 10 be some doubt In
his mind, not ais 10 intended, but per-
haps as TO the apparent. conflict with
the constitution existing In the provis-
ion for the enforcement Of territorial
DEGREES. This provision ne will seek
to have amended. although he does
not appear to regard with gravity the
objections to the provision as Il stands.
Concerning the Monroe Doctrine, his
view viii be the more widely shared
by the thoughtful people Of the nation
as the logic of his position Is more
generally understood He Is reported
as holding that the constitution oE the
league could not contrayene the Mon-
roe Doctrine when il provides for an
extension Of that doctrine to all the
world. II the League Of Nations,
through tho enforcement Of its char
tered authority. Is 10 create. preserve,
and maintain conditions throughout
the world which the Monroe Doctrine
created. preserves, and maintains for
the American continents only. then
that doctrine will simply be reenforc-
cd by something broader and more
offeetiye in its influence and power.
This Is q rati0pal conclusion.
There is some talk, among certain
of the opponents 81 the presidents Z
League of Nations policy about pro-
test against what they call sirrend-
er Of the country's nationalisrn TO q
socialistic dream represents the as
piratsoa which millions Of people have
cherished through centuries. and
never more warmly or more hopefully
than during the last four and half
year rat the curse of war nlsght be
removed from the earth Woorow
Wilson Il an idealist, II Is true, Bat he
Is. today the recognized leader ofhun-
dreds Of millions Of ideaiists through
out the world. all Of whom are pray
ing that the magnificent opportunity
now presented for the ablishment
sOf 4 basis of permanent international
peace shall not pass nninnroved III
The last anaylsis, the point which
those who oppose the presidents plan
must face Is. whether or not the ma
tions which apparently have the pow
s. 50 to determine shall leave unset