The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-16


am opposed to league which entan.
giles us with European and oriental
powers
The Big Irish Question.
FOR instance take the Irish ques-
tlon am in favor of letting the pro-
testants in north Ireland fight it out
with the Catholics of south Ireland to
secure her independence and IL we
had league of nations 1t would have
compelled us to have gone to war
with Germany for thus endeavoring to
aid the Irish in their struggle for free
dom. AS 1t was we went to war be-
cause Germany invaded our nation
atty.
Another reason I am opposed to
the league of nations is because it
places judicial powers in political
bodies.
"All justiciable causes should be
decided by those having judicial train
ing. Those who are actuated by poll
teal motives may change their course
from time to time. They are not Inn
pressed with the value of presidents.
1t has now become recognized that
reservations will not be Objectionable
to European countries. This must be
true because Europe must be depen-
dent upon us for years for finances.
not swept of your feet by any propa-
ganda, and that you study the dangers
foreshadowed in the adoption of the
leag cue Of nations We should study 1t
not as partisans, but as lawyers. 1t
Is our first duty to preserve our gov
eminent"
HolIingsWorth Wants Amendments.
Following Mr.. Sawyer, Mr.. A. Hol-
Ilingsworth was introduced and he
spoke as follows:
Il have never said that | was OPP
posed to the league Of nations but | do
say that it is now proposed that our
country engage in trip on an I'M
known sea and that it is wise to hest
tate before embarl1ing on that voyage.
There are all shades of opinion
with reference to the league of nations
among republicans, some are opposed
to it, some favor it, some want modi-
fications and amendments but the
great majority of people are in favor
OF some sort Of a covenant like the
league of nations.
There is no use in denying that
when we join the league of nations
we abandon the policies of our fore
fathers. We abandon the policy with
respect to the Monroe doctrine and
other questions which have controlled
our action for $50 years.
Needs Careful Study.
II am not saying that we should not
do it, but this very question was up
i,. oh v,<v 10, nd 4.
tors Of the democratic party took the
same position in that day that the
democratic party does today. Thomas
Jefferson and his party favored a
treaty with France Washington
thought differently. Washington and
Alexander Hamilton definitely fore
saw the condition which exists today
and said we should avoid it-and that
we should stay out of the age-long dis
putes Of Europe.
at may be that Washington and
Hamilton were wrong and that Jeffer;
son was right in the idea that the
United States should adopt policy in
helping humanity wherever humanity
needed help-in his day it was to aid
the French who were then struggling
for liberty.
The Monroe Doctrine.
l4a,"Our policy adopted at that time
when we were young nation, when
we had no financial credits, when we
had no physical power, might have
been good policy.
1--WE had four million people then,
now we have one hundred and ten
million. We have unlimited finances,
invincible armies and we occupy a
wholly different position. We are n
position now to be world con-
querers.
st may be that on account of our
physical strength that we owe it to
mankind to make the world safe for
democracy, just as a man of influence
owes his community the duty to as
sist that community in better ways Of
living. We must not forget our respon-
sibilities on the other hand. We must
recognize that this is departure from
the advice of Washington. 1t is not
an extension OF the Monroe doctrine.
for it is an abrogation and denial Of
the Monroe doctrine. The reference to
the Monroe doctrine in the league Of
nations may be characterized in the
language OF Iorhler pleSiueHt do
being weasel words" The Monroe
doctrine is not policy to secure
peace, hut is now and always has been
challenge to war and nothing else.
At the time it was announced by Presi-
dent Monroe it was defiance Of the
plan of Spain to send troops to Amer
lea 1t has always been a threat to
expel by force European troops which
might come to America.
With Some Changes.
81 am in favor of the adoption OF
/, Loo nno nf n ati0ns I haliaYa that