The sun., 1919-03-01

trine stopped the incursions OF Eng
land Upon the territory Of Venezuela
and settled the boundary question
finally by arbitration. Under the
Monroe Doctrine .we arrested the
attempt OF Germany to take Ven
e1uelan territory on another occa-
sion.
TN these two instances the doc
trine was enforced, by n Democratic
President and by a Republican Pres
ident. and they were supported in
80 doing by all the people OF the
United States without regard to
party. j mention these cases merely
to show that we are not cutting
away from tho body polite dead
limbs, but that we are abandoning
two cardinal principles OF American
government. which. until the presen-
tauon of this draft For the con-
were as vital as on the day when
washington addressed the people of
the United States for the last time
or when President Monroe an
nounced his policy to the world.
What has happened since November
IL, 1918. to make them no suddenly
valueless, to cause them to be re-
garded as injurious obstacles to be
cast out upon tho dust heaps of
history?
Two other general propositions
and l shall proceed to examine these
league articles in detail. In article
10 we, in common, of course. with
the other signatories and members
OF the projected league, guarantee
the territorial integrity and the po-
lltical independence OF every mem
Der OF the leagu> That means that
we ultimately guarantee the inde-
pendence and the boundaries, as now
settled or as they may be settled
by the treaty with Germany, OF
every nation on earth. II the United
States agrees TO guarantees Of that
sort we must maintain them. The
word of the United States, her
promise to guarantee the independ-
ence and the boundaries Of any
country, is Just as sacred as her
honor-far more important than the
maintenance of every financial
pledge. which the people Of this
country would never consent TO
brcak.
No Limit to the Possibilities.
Il do not now say tbs time has
not come when. In the interest of
future peace, the American people
may not decide that we ought to
guarantee the territorial integrity
OF the far flung British Empire. In
GLIDING her self-governing dominions
and colonies. of the Balkan States,
OF China, or Japan, or of the French,
italian. and Portuguese colonies in
Africa; but do suggest that Il ia
very grave. vesy perilous prom
ise to make. because there is but one
way by which such guarantees. II
ever invoked. can DO maintained,
and that way Is the way Of force
whether military or economic force
II matters not
III we guarantee any country on
the earth, no matter how small or
how large, In It's independence or It's
boundaries, that guarantee we must
maintain at any cost when our word
Is once given. and we must be In
constant possession OF fleets and
armies capable OF enforcing these
guarantees at n moments notice.
There is no need OF arguing
whether there Is TO be compulsive
forcc behind this league. II Is there
In Article X. absolutely and entirely
by the mere fact Of these guaran-
tees. The ranks OF the armies and
the fleets OF tho navy made neces-
sary by such pledges are to be filled
and manned by the sons, husbands
and brothers OF the people OF
America.
II wish them carefully to con.
cider, therefore, whether they are
willing 10 have the youth Of Amer
lea ordered TO war by other nations
without regard to what they or their
representatives desire. ! would have
them determine aztec much reflec-
ton whether they are willing to
have the United States forced into
war by other nations against her
own will.
Il hope they will take time TO
consider this promise before they
make it-because when II Is once
made II cannot be broken-and ask
themselves whether that Is the bes;
way OF assuring perfect peace
throughout the future years. A
worlds peace which requires at the
outset preparations for WARRIOR
war. either economic or military
la order to maintain that pence
presents questions and awakens
thoughts which certainly ought To be
sobeyly and discreetly considered.
Question Involved.
The second general proposition
to which | would call attention Is
this: We now in this draft bind our
selves to submit every possible inter-
national dispute or difference either
to the league court or to the con-
troll OF the executive council OF the
league. That includes immigration,
n very live question. Are We ready
TO give 10 other nations the power
to say who shall come into the
United States and become citizens
of the Republic? II we are ready
10 do this, we are prepared TO part
with the most precious OF sovereign
rights. that which guards our ex-
istence and our character as a ma
ton.
Are we ready to leave It to
other nations TO determine whether
we shall admit 10 the United States
food OF japanese, Chinese and
Hindu labor? II we accept this
plan for a league this is precisely
what wo promise 20 do Are We
prepared TO hHer& League 81 Ms
tons. in which the United States
has only one vote, open our doors
II they sec At to any and all I'M
migrat ton from all parts OF the
world?
Mr., Taft has announced that tho
question OF immigration will go be-
fore the international tribunal. and
says now that all organized labor is
for the league. II American labor
favors putting the, restriction OF i'm
"a. A..