The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-12

would rend the life Of the Republic. II
may be very old fashioned. sirs. II NAV
be reactionary. It may be shocking TO
pacifist and dreamer alike. but choose
for our own people, hundred millions
or more, the right to search the Ameri-
can conscience and prescribe our own
obligations to ourselves and the worlds
civilization.
only the other day the President
called upon the opponents of this league
to put up or shut up Among OPP
ponents he classes reservationlsts as well
as those who would destroy IL all. A
good many people have been putting up
In this country. Perhaps they have a
right to speak. But in modified terms
the President is uttering that very ia
miliar demand, If you won't have this,
what have you to offer7' 1t is the well
known call for constructive proposals
In place of obstructive discussion.
There are times when obstruction
justihes the call for something construc-
tive. But this situation, Senator's, calls
for action preservatlve. When some one
proposes an impossible thing II is not
fit challenge TO demand a constructive
substitute. The preservation of safety
Is the main thing. A safeguaried in
heritance Is infinitely better than the
wasted riches of nationality.
Nobody VIII "shut Up"
Nobody is going to shut up De-
mocracy does not demand such a sur
render. Men in this body have a sworn
duty to perform, no less important to
ratification than Presidential authority
IL to negotiation. A Senator may be
as Jealous OF his constitutional duty as
the President is Jealous OF an interna-
tional connection, especially IL we cling
to the substance as we'll as the form
OF representative democracy. The die
tatorship was for the war only and does
not abide in the aftermath.
IF reservations are to send the Ger
man treaty and the league covenant
back we ought to amend fully, we ought
TO write into the text the things which
America is thinking. There has been
inclination to yield some points rather
than necessitate prolonged delay. We
now know there are to be reservations.
unmistaken reservations. else there will
be no treaty. They must speak in clear
est terms. The covenant Is unthinkab1e
without them.
These reservations must be strong
and unmistakable. I could no more sup
port mild reservations than 1 could
sanction mild Americanism. These res
erNdIonS COHne OF purpOSe 10 pTOteCt
America first and still save a frame
work on which to build intelligent CO.
operation. These reservations come Of
desire to offer opportunity for a clear
ing house for the conscience of peoples.
These reservations declare that we hold
for ourselves the right to maintain our
own peace and are willing to encourage
Europe's effort toward the great de-
sideratum. But In these reservations
there must be no surrender of the basic
things on which this nation was builded
to its present day height OF world /emi-
nence.
without the amendments we shall be
remiss in uttering the conscience of the
Republic without any reservations we
shall be recreant to duty. This is not the
universal thought. There is dispute
about It being the majority thought OF
the American millions, but believe II
will become the deliberate judgment OF
America"