Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-22
The C0Uenant of the League
And Our O1On Constitution
.HE Covenant of the League Of Nations
provides within itself simple and
Il adequate plan for its amendment,

provides within itself a simple and
adequate plan for its amendment,
Just as does the Constitution of the United
States. A proposed change will be adopted
if sanctioned by the members of the League
whose representatives constitute the Council
now numbering nine and by majority OF
the representatives composing the Assembly.
Former Attorney General Wckersham sea-
sonably directs attention to this fact and
argues thereon that the Senate should "ratify
the treaty, and thus avert from America the
reproach of depriFing the world OF the great
hope, the radiant promise Of world allied
for the preservation of peace" Then" adds
Mr.. Wickersham:
Let those measures for improvement
of the instrument for the better safe
guarding of the national traditions and
institutions of America be formulated by
the Senate, or by both houses of Con-
gress, and transmitted to the American
representatives in the assembly in the
Council of the League of Nations with
instructions to present and press them
for adoption as amendments to the Cove
nant. Has not the time come for action
inspired by the wisdom and the example
of the trainers and those who promoted
the Constitution of the United States?
The comparison is opposite, for the fathers
of our own Constitution faced problems re-
markably similar to those besieging the
League Covenant. They found, to begin with,
a mass of warning opinions which had to be
harmonized; and after they had succeeded in
bringing together the constructive minds OF
the day. they still were opposed by public men
the Lodges and Borahs of that age-who
considered the entire plan OF the Union I'M
sound and perilous. Mr.. Treadwell, of New
York a pretentious figure in his time solemn
ly declared that "in this Constitution we have
departed widely from the political principles
and political faith of re, when the spirit Of
liberty ran high and danger put curb on
ambition. Here we find no security for the
existence of our State Governments In THIS
Constitution we have not only neglected-We
have done worse-we have violated our
faith" Mr. James Lincoln, of South Caro-
lima do1efully predicted that ii the proposed
Constitution were adopted, the results would
be: First, naughty imperOuS aristocracy
and ultimately a tyrannical monarchy" Mr..
George Mason, of Virginia, asked, in tones
ctlriously prophetic of Senator Reed, rs 1t to
be supposed that one national Government
will suit so extensive a country, embracing so
many climates and containing inhabitants so
very different in manners habits and GUS
tOms?" So ran the. winds and waves OF
criticism against the effort to establish Gov
eminent and a Constitution for the United
States
Constructive thought prevailed in that mo-
mentous issue as we trust it will in this
crucial hour of the worlds history. But 1t
would not have prevailed if the friends OF the
Constitution had insisted each upon having
his pet amendments incorporated in the in
strument at the time of it's ratification. No
statesmen of that day was quite satisfied with
the Constitution. washington, JeHerson,
Adams. all saw what they considered its de-
fects and knew that in the very nature OIL
things it would require adaptation to the
needs of an .ever-changing human order. AS
wisely practical men, therefore, they approved
the plan as the best then obtainable and
placed within it means for its amendment as
the need and Judgment of the future might
dictate.
This is obviously the right and sensible
attitudn for the Senate to take toward the
Teague of Nations. Should the Covenant be
refused Endorsement until it fully satisfied all
it's critics or even all it's friends, the noble
efforts to unite peace-loving nations in prac-
tical pIan for the prevention OF war would
he foredoomed to failure. We cannot do bet"
ter at this iuncture than to follow the eX-
annie of our Republics founders VINO, agree
ing upon broad principles and essential truths,
left many detail for the future to WORK OUT
That the Covenant of the League OF Ma
tions as it now stands takes due care Oh essen
tial truths and broad principles is attested by
the fact that it won the approval OF all the
statesmen gathered at the Paris Conference,
notwithstanding the wide diversity Of the ma
tionaI interests and ideas which they repre-
scented. For Senator to stand IN the way OF
Americas moral leadership and in the way
of the worlds widest well-being merely for
nride OF opinion is unspeakably picayunlsh
The Peace Treaty, including the League cove
nant should be reported from the Foreign Re
lations Committee without further delay, anu
should be promptly ratified