The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-05
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Irrevocable Loss of Sovereignty

lrrevOcable Loss OF sovereignty
Opponents of the league of nations constitu-
lion, recently submitted to the United States by
President Wilson on his flying visit home, have
declared that instrument irrevocably transfers
the most essential features of our national SOW
ereignty to the leagues executive council Fro
ponents of the constitution as submitted and rec
commended by our president declare that such ele-
1nents of national sovereignty or freedom as are
thus lost, must necessarily go to the league IN
order to render that organization powerful
enough to enforce international peace. None OF
these latter, as has so far been noticed, has de-
MED that there is any provision for nation once
Joining the league to withdraw therefrom or for
any termination of the life of the league. 1t
seems plain, therefore, that whatever degree OF
national sovereignty is absorbed by the league is
gone forever, irrevocably.
What is sovereignty? Webster says it is
'athe power that determines and administers the
government of state in the final analysis. Thus,
in republic, as the United States, the sover-
eighty is in the body of enfranchised citizens
What are the chief elements of our national
sovereignty? First and foremost our right to
elect our national law makers and executives Az
the present time these consist OF our congress
men, senators and representatives, and our pres-
dent and vice-presdent. Through these officials
our best judgment regarding domestic affairs IS
expressed in laws and constitutional amend
ments, and concerning our relations with othef
nations in treaties and policies. To safeguard
properly and forcefully our nation against any
interference with the peaceful evolution or our
national civilization and its ideals and aspirations.
either from internal revolution or foreign ag-
gression, we maintain an army and navy as
strong as our judgment tells us is necessary.
To meet the expense of this God given and
hard won right to rule ourselves, to finance
properly our great American democracy, we en-
power our representatives equitably to tax us.
There, in nutshell, is the definition of our
national sovereignty, what we do with it and how
we maintain it.
The international constitution President Will
son left with u.s. which bears the stamp of his ap-
prevail would change all this fundamentally and
irrevocably. Upon our self chosen national gov
eminent would be superimposed an appointed
international government, the nine men COM
posing the leagues executive council. Thus IN
the beginning the very keystone of our arch OF
national sovereignty and independence is sent
crashing down.
To complete the ruin this constitution places
the ultimate control of our foreign treaties and
policies, of the size and disposition of our army
and navy, of many vital points of our domestic
affairs such as immigration, taxation and the
tariff all under the control of the eight foreign
ers and one American who will form this exc
cutive council.
If these things can not be so what then is the
real Interpretation, in the proposed constitution,
of articles 8, a, 5, 8, 10, II, 10, 10, and p?
The proponents of this proposed constitution,
however, feebly, if at ALL deny these effects viii!
accompany the adoption by our nation of this
particular international measure. Most of them
regard and recommend these things as beneficial,
as guarantees of eternal international peace.
But are these vital and far reaching conces-
sions. is this surrender of American sovereignty
the only manner in which international freedom
from wars of aggression or mistaken national
pride can be assured?
Is Universal Empire the only solution, the
best answer?