The Irish standard., 1919-03-08

dangers and proselytism.'
GREAT AMERICAN NATIONAL DEBATE.
so radical departure from the historic American
Poncy as IS involved IN our entry into the proposed
League OF Nations could not and should not be
MADE without thorough analysis and exhaustive in
vestlgatlon OF the proposition. The issue is now
]olned and is open to that full and free discussion
winch IS the right OF people enjoying government
OF the people, by the people, and for the people,"
The keynote speeches which have been made in
congress will now be followed in manifold forms
throughout the countrys IN press, in pulpit on the
political platforms, and in multduninous assem-
blages OF the various kinds that tend to mould the
pupc opinion OF an alert and intelligent people ;
SO that by the time the question is ready for final
disposition all may be we'll informed regarding it's
merits and demerits
Since the days of the famous Webster Hayes de-
bate preceding the Civil War there has been no
public issue that has stirred the American people to
such profound depth of interest In its initial
stages 1t has given indications of affecting strongly
the lines OF the cleavage of the two great political
parties, and who can prophesy the outcome in this
direction when the situation becomes more tense
as it is bound to be- as the lineup of the pro
ponents and opponents of the measure proceeds?
Senator, Sherman has denounced his Republican
colleagues for the 'spnelessness" of their opposi-
ton and intimates his intention of absenting him
self from their caucus conferences if they do not
speed up" their action. He has characterized the
course of President Wilson as autocratic and tyr
annous and indeed little short of traitorous to
American interests Senators Borah Reed LODGE
Po1ndeNter and Knox have also ranged themselves
IN opposition to the great international project and
have hurled broadsides of destructive criticism
against it that we'll calculated to excite fear and
d1smay among its proponents.
Senator Knox Of Pennsylvania has subjected the
proposed constitution of the League to the most
exhaustive and learned analysis that has been heard
on either side of the Atlantic
Far from abolishing war, Senator Knox main
tanned that the proposed League recognized the
legality and possibility of war and furthermore in
certain cases, required war and that in every
instance would be potential world war;
The Pennsylvania senator further maintained that
the proposed League would: "Inevitably, through
the outlawry of the Central empires force the form
alton of a second League of Nations which would
bid tor adherence of neutral states, and divide the
world into two great camps preparing for greater
struggle of life and DEATH
destroy the sovereignty of the United States
override the constitution by delegation of power to
declare war and determine the size of armies to be
utilized in distant parts of the world, take from the
American Monroe Doctrine its life and threaten the
national independence and life of the republic"
One OF the points emphasized by Senator Knox,
which may be of particular to the people of
ireland and members of the Irish elsewhere is
the following, which he mentions as first among
the provisions that likely to lead to war:
BY this document we, of the high
tracing parties, oblgate ourselves to preserve by
and political independence of the states members of
the league
1t will readily be that if this provision were
incorporated into the League Constitution there
would be little room for the hope of Irish indepen-
dence, and, conceivably, American would be ob-
gated to employ her and resources in opposition
to such movement.
u he Senator further argues that every future war
would be potential world war and thus the United
States would be thrust fully into the cauldrons of
European politics and every outbreak in the
Balkans (even domestic if it threatened interna-
tonal war) will call for expenditure of treas
ure, for some shedding of American blood for some
loss of American life"
Regarding its effects upon the Monroe Doctrine
and the American traditional policies against for
eign entangements laid down by Washington
and Jefferson, Senator Knox argues:
To say that tFe elaborate plan now before us
which contemp1ates and provides for the mastery of
the world does not counter to these announced
principles is to be blind the plainest meaning of
plain language. Moreover, to contend that this
great doctrine which embodes vital principle of
policy, not tenet of international rule or
law is saved by the vague and general prescriptions
of the covenant preamble or poorly worded decara-
tions of Article I, is either to convict of failure
to understand the question or of deliberate attempt
to impose the credulity of those who have not
had opportunity to read the document themselves"
Senator Knox thus reaches the apparently para
doxical conclusion that the proposed League Con-
stitution fosters and commands wars rather than
prevents or abolishes them.
1t would seem that in this crisis we are placed |