Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-01

drawn into any future wars IL we keep
out of the league. With all due respect
to the distinguished gentleman, he knows
better than that. We are neighbors to
the whole world and there can be no fire
anywhere without putting our own house
in danger. Why, so recently as the Boxer
uprising in China we had TO join with
other nations In using our military force
to protect our nationals on the other side
OF the earth. II is impossible to get
farther away from Washington than
China.
Now rs to Asiatc immigration the Sena-
tor fears that the right Of the Japanese.
Chinese and Hindus to enter this country
may be the subject of consideration by the
league and that we may be ordered to
admit immigrants Of these races And he
expressed this fear after hearing the Pree
ident explain that the men who drafted the
covenant regarded the question of immi.
grafton ms one OF domestic concern with
which the league could not interfere. This
must inevitably be so. And there must be
scores OF other purely domestic questions
which must be left TO the settlement of the
parties directly concerned. Otherwise the
league would break down under the bur-
den put upon 1t.
Mr. Lodge raises the bugaboo of inter.
nationalism to frighten US, and says we
are asked to substitute it for natonalism
and TO accept an international state in the
place OF Americanism. This will terrify
no one who understands what the new
internationalism is. As Senator Hitch.
cock well said, 1t Is a plan for an interna-
tional agreement to protect the inde.
pendent nations In their right to life and
liberty when those precious rights are
threatened 1t Is the very opposite of the
internationallsm of the Socialist. which
seeks the creation and organization of
class consciousness among the workers OF
all nations in order that the state may be
overthrown and one class the world over
may have its will as the Bolsheviki are
now having it in Russia. The new inter-
nati0nalism which we are asked to support
is the surest guarantee for the preservation
of nationalism and of Americanism
The Senator seems to be grieved because
the Peace Conference has not accepted his
advice and drafted a peace treaty with
Germany without considering the large
issues involved in the creation of a league
of nations He demands that peace be
made at once and that our soldiers be sent
home.
We all want peace as soon as possible
and we all want the soldiers back home.
But the men around the peace table have
discovered that an effective peace treaty
ment of some international agreement
which can enforce its provisions and pro-
tect the new states TO be created out OF
the dissolying empires ruined by the war
The Peace Conference is doing It's best
to make a treaty which no nation can re.
gard with contempt as a mere scrap of
paper The conferees. as we understand
it. regard the league covenant as an in
SepdIdDlt pdib VI thV Pc"NS "e'NN' 1890
necessary to it's perfection.
We are willing to accept Senator Lodges
statement when he says that we are all
striving for the same ends, but we cannot
refrain from remarking that he seems to
be doing his best to hinder rather than
to help in the solution of the grave prob
lens involved His speech was prepared
hefore he listened to the Presidents expla.
nation OF what the men who drafted the
covenant sought TO accomplish. He had
found his verdict before he heard the evil
dence. He Is applying the remark Of the
Scotchman who said he was willing to be
convinced, but he would like to see the
man who could convince him.
We regret exceedingly that the Senator
has not risen to the occasion and deliv-
cred himself of a broad.minded, helpful
discussion Of a project which we are all
hoping may be carried to successful con.
clusion. The temper Of his criticism Is
not good, nor, in spite of his professions
TO the contrary, does II seem TO be that
OF a man who hopes that workable league
can be formed.
The action Of the in