Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-10

from the destruction with which it
I is threatened by article 81 in the
| covenant of the league. and leave
it, where it has always been, with
iD the sole and complete control
of The United States.
This covenant of the League of
! Nations is an alliance and not a
league. aSeis amply shown by the
provisions of the treaty with Ger
many which vests all essential
| power in five great nations. Those
same nations, the principal allied
and associated powers, also dom
/ mate the league through the coun-
| ell
| Will Breed Wars.
| THE committee believes that the
league as it stands will breed wars
instead of securing peace. They
also believe that the covenant of
the league demands sacrifices of
| American independence and SOW
ereignty which would in no way
promote the worlds peace but
which are fraught with the grav-
est dangers to the future safety
and well-being of the United
States. The amendments and res
eryations alike are governed by a
single purpose and that is to guard
American rights and American
sovereignty, the invasion OF which
! would stimulate breaches of faith,
encourage conflicts, and generate
wars. The United States can serve
the cause of peace best, as she has
served ii in the past and do more
to secure liberty and civilization
throughout the world by proceed
ing the paths she has always fol-
lowed and by not permitting her
self TO be fettered By the dictates
of OTHER nations or immersed and
Riots Of Europe
We have heard it frequently
said that the United States must
do this and that in regard to this
League of Nations and the terms
of the German peace. There is no
must about it. Must is not a
word to be used by foreign nations
or domestic officials to the Ameri-
can people or their representa-
tives. Equally uniting is the at
tempt to brighten the unthinking
by suggesting that If the sena; 9
ADOPTS amendments or reserva-
tions the United States may be ex-
cludod from the league. This is
the one thing that certainly Will
not happen. The other nations
know well that there is no threat
of retaliation possible with the
United States because he have
aSLed nothing %fCr ourselves and
have received nothing. We seek
no guarantees, 40 territory, no
commercial benefits or advantages.
The other nations will take US on
Or own terms for without US their
league is wreck and all their
gains from victorious peace are
iIuperiled We exact nothing sell
fish Tor ourselves but we insist
that We shall be the judges, and
the only judges, as to the preseT-
vations of our tights, our SOW
ereignty, our safety, and our i'll
dependence.
Is Free Now.
81 this moment the United ,
States is free from any entangle- |
mcntS or obligations which legally /
or in the name of honor would
compel her to do anything con
trary to the dictates of cOnsciente (
or to the freedom and the inter /
ests of the American people This !
is the hour when we can say pre- I
cisely what We will do and exactly /
what we will not do, and no man I
can ever question our good faith if /
We speak now When We are once /
caI. ght in the reshes Of a treaty of .
Slliancn or a league OF nations /
composed of IS other powers oir /
freedom Of action is gone To pre-
serve American Independence and /
sovereignty and thereby +
best serve the welfare OF mankind .
tie committee proposes these I
Il nlendments and reservations !