Milford chronicle., 1919-10-10
UNWILLING TO AID LEAGUE

4 4 " W AAnA-NN ~ AAD lFl4ANN r
a Milford delegate 70 the Atlanti
Congress TO Enforce Peace, recent
held in New York. received some day
ago, from the League to Enforce Peace
e. of which Hon. William H. Taft is pres
5 dent, an urgent appeal for money an
8 personal effort 70 save the proposes
{ covenant for @ League of Nations
. The following was his reply:
Milford. Delaware.
October 4, 1919.
Mr.. Herbert S. Houston, Treas
League TO Enforce Peace.
New York, y. Y
Dear Sir:
Your appeal ITO Friends of the
League of Nations" received. / an
not a friend of the League of Nations
although an appointed delegate to The
Atlantic Congress to Enforce Peace
I recently held in New York My loyal
ty is founded upon the precepts of the
Fathers of this Republic and the prin-
I ciDles laid down in our National Con-
/ stitution.
When our fathers broke the cord
that bound us to Europe July 4, 1776.
. it was understood to be final, and our
loyalty and devotion. henceforth, to
the American Republic and its COnsti-
tuition and laws. l am unwilling to
give aid and comfort to any scheme of
super-world-government, as is propos-
ed, and regret, as an American. that
those who professed to represent us
at the Peace Conference. after the
war was won, succumbed to the wiles
of European diplomats in their effort
10 place the resources and freedom of
the United States at the disposal of
European and Asiatic monarchs. Il
nave already communicated with Sen
ators and expressed the belief that
the proposed League Covenant is akin
to treason, and my gratitude as an
American TO them for their patriotic /.
stand in opposition. ENCOURAGEMENT (
and aid to distressed peoples of the 4
world has been, and will be, freely .
given by Americans as occasion re-
quires; but we must not yield reason
TO sickly sentimentalism and subject
our sovereignty and freedom. even
remotely, TO the control or direction
Of foreign potentates, even though thev
speak the same language as ourselves.
IN resources. is not powerful enough
20 elevate Europe and Asia to our
civic standards; on the contrary. Eu-
rope reeking as it is with the radical
.sm would probably drag us down to
2eir civic standards. if we should
suher our country to be led into a
League dominated by foreign poten-
.ates who reign under the authority
lL the Divine right of Kings" Con-
'idering our domestic hardships at the
present time, aggravated as they ap-
)ear to be by Administration blunder-
ng and Incompetence. and the menace
If foreign radicalism invading our
aud. and encouraged. unfortunately.
'y resident idealists, it would appear
o be the duty of the wise men and
women of the United States to confine
heir efforts to the preservation OF the
lone government, and the relief Of
ur own population. and leave for So
ltlon the problems of Europe to the
Wisdom and prudence of European
iatesmen. At the Peace Conference
european statesmen manifested abun-
ant evidence Of their ability to solve
be problems that confront them. to
he shameful disadvantage of our ac-
redited delegates. What we need for
ar safety in this country is not
eague of Nations. but the cultivation
a spirit of devotion to the principles
our fOrefathers as embodied in the
onstitution; to teach the masses to
lerish our freedom and independ-
nee; to select for public officials our
lsest, most respected and patriotic
tizens; and to inoculate in the hearts
ld brains OF the people respect for
ir constitutional government and
1edience to the laws enacted for orr
rejection and safety. o.