Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-06-17
ON ITS MERITS

important, so far-reaching in its effect, that it should be con-
sidered solely on its merits.
A league of all the civilized nations of the earth for the
preservation of peace and the promotion of good will for all
mankind has been the dream of forward looking men for CEN
turtles. Many have believed that it always would be a dream.
Even some of the worlds greatest statesmen have looked upon
such q league as an ideal worthy of mans utmost effort, but
something almost beyond human possibility.
We have, in a previous editorial, quoted Senator Lodge
on the advantages of a League of Nations which may be taken
as the senator's honest opinion given before any partisan or
personal feelings entered into the matter. 1T may seem uto.
plan at this moment" said the senator, ito suggest a union oil
civilized nations in order to put a controlling force behind the
maintenance of peace and international order; but it is through
the aspiration for perfection, through search for Utoplas, that
the real advances have been made. The great nations must be
so united" the senator goes on to say, "as to- be able TO say TO
any single country, You must not go to war; and they can only
say that effectively when the country desiring war knows that
the force which the united nations place behind peace is ire
sshble."
These words were uttered by Senator Lodge in 1915 dur
ing an address at the commencement exercises at Union Uni
versity. They clearly express the sentiment OF thinking men
everywhere. |
When President Wilson, in an address to congress Janu-
airy 8, 1885, stated the war aims and peace terms of the United
states. he made a league of all civilized nations one of the con-
ditons. 1t was hailed with the greatest satisfaction all over
the country and was accepted by the Allies as embodying their
own ideals.
one great hope of humanity. People everywhere, of every
race, creed and nationality, look longingly to this getting to-
gether of the nations of the earth, bound by a covenant where
by all differences arising between governments will be set
lied by peaceful means without the wholesale slaughter such
as the world has just experienced.
And this covenant between nations is actually about TO
be attained. Twenty-seven different countries have, through
their delegates to the peace conference, agreed to subscribe
to it, while Germany, in her counter proposals, has requested
that provision be made for her prompt admission to the league.
To be sure the league may not be as strong as many would
wish. 1t is not exactly what President Wilson had in mind
when he drew up his fourteen points, but it is all that might
sc expected as a beginning when the objections and conditions
Of such a large number of different nations have to be con-
sidered. i
The main thing is, a start has been made toward that
Utopia of which Senator Lodge spoke four years ago when the
horrors of the World War were being forced upon us.
But now that the start has been made, why reject it OF
turn back?
Never before has there been such an opportunity to &C
complish such a world wide organization. Another century
may pass before such an opportunity can be had again. Today
we have the official representatives OF twenty-seven nations
all assembled at Paris with representatives of Germany, Aus
tria, Bulgaria and Turkey sending delegates to carry on nego-
tiations, and with neutral countries asking to be heard. Here
has actually been born a league, the main object of which is to
bring the nations of the earth together in order that they may
live in greater concord, bringing their differences to an in
ternational court for adjudication the same as the individuals
N civilized nations bring their differences to their local courts
Tor settlement.
This is no longer a dream. 1t is an actual fact. The
League of Nations has actually been born. 1t is for us who have
longed for such a condition, but hardly dared expect il, to
nourish it and expand it, strengthen 1T until 1T is all that CIVIL
ization would have it to be.
Here, indeed, is something far above any party policy.
Our differences we may have here at home, every nation may
have its differences among its own people, but this, the League
Of Nations, is worldwide in scope. Personalities and indi-
yidual grievances sink into insignifcance when the enormity
of the proposition is realized. L
Admitting that President Wilson made a serious mistake
in ignoring the United States senate as he has; admitting that
his proper course would have been to be in close and constant
communication with the foreign relations committee of the
senate, working in conjunction with that body for the interest
of Notwithstanding this grave error on the part of the
President, that is no reason why we, as a nation, should per-
NIT this golden opportunity to slip by merely because of one
mans mistake, or because of the grievances that the senators
may have. |
This is no partisan or personal matter. 1t involves all
humanity and anybody having personal feelings or partisan
scores to wipe out should seek some other way rather than en-
danger the future peace of the world by using the League of
Nations as the means of taking revenge.
That thinking men look upon this matter as nom partisan
is evident by the attitude of such national figures as former
President Taft, former Attorney General WlckerSham and AL
Lawrence Lowell, president of Harvard University Repub-i
licans, all of them, but men who see beyond their party and
view the League of Nations from the point of view of civiliza-
ton and humanity as a whole.
In order to help our readers consider this matter the
EVENING NEWS has started a series of articles to be pub
lished on this page, the first one appearing yesterday, taking up
the treaty of peace in which is embodied the League of Ma