The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-06-14
THE puT YoF EACH CITIZEN.


ed the delegates of other to believe that the
people of the United States are not only in favor of
league of nations, but insisting upon such league
The American delegates using the influence of the United
States government creditor of other to the
extent of billions, and holding the power almost of life
and death them, compelled the allied governments
to complcate peacemakng with the formulation of
permental scheme of joining certain nations together in
a so-caled league of nations.
The proclaimed object of this league to emancpate
the world from war The United States having just given
example of wonderful generosity in sending army
to Europe help the of liberty, without demanding
anything whatever for the sacrifice it seemed reasonab
at first Europe that the league fostered by America
effective of Kidding the world Of Be-
lievng that Americans heart and soul behind the
league the peoples of Europe accepted it, and their del
egaes Paris cooperated in discussing future ideal
peace at the very moment when their nations bleed
ing and fantng for the need of immediate actual peace
Not knowing the nature of the treaty making power of
the United States and implicitly believing that the people
Of this country have demanded the league the price
of their friendship for Europe the peoples of allied
tries have taken the league established fact They
have not the slightest idea that the United States is
committed to he league They have heard from the Amer
lean President the assurance the hny yelled threat
that the United States insists upon the league.
Now the American people to decide whether the
United States shall join the league thus framed and put
forth They determine whether the United States
tic NV with tbp
league, whether the league is important than any
other consideration and must include the United States at
any cost
What is the duty of the United States? As we under
stand it, the United States bound to go to the defense
of the principle of by consent of the govern
edthe principle of liberty Americans understand lib
erty-which assaied by enemy apparently power
full and determined enough strike down liberty every
where unless defeated That was the duty of the
United States 1t performed the essential part of its duty
when helped to give the finishing blow to Germany. Its
duty will be fully performed when helps to fasten such
upon Germany that the enemy can never renew his
attack.
The claim is made in support of the league that the
United States is bound to remain in European affairs
that its solemn duty requires it to share permanently in
the control of European nations in their relations one with
another. We utterly reject this claim as baseless We
deny that the United States morally otherwise bound
to participate in European affairs after Germany shall
have been made powerless. We insist that Europe be-
ongs to Europe and that Europes questions shall be set
tied by Europe without interference from the United
States We insist, equally that Americas questions shall
be settled by America without interference from Europe
We feel that the delay bad feeling and inability of the
victor nations to fasten their will upon Germany are due
to the failure of the American delegates to respect the
BROAD straight boundary line that has separated America
and Europe for century
If the United States bound to participate in Europe
'frs, Europe is bound to participate in American affairs
There no escape from this simple truth by any possible
attempt at evasion The attempts to evade this fact have
rven some Americans to hypocrisy other to fasehood
hers to ridiculous positions and still others to honest
that the league of nations is a mistake
If the league of nations is formed it must either be eff
ective or Ineffective If the latter it had better never
e born If effective it must gain its power to control
action of nations from the only source of that
the sovereignty of each nation One steahy argument
fered is that the league will be feeble at first but in
reasingy strong. But that merely means that the ma
ons would be gradually drawn under its control An eff
ectve league means that the United States would sur
ender its free will to council at Geneva Switzerland
nd take orders from that council That is another simp
nth which advocates of the league of nations must face
nd make acceptable to the people if the United tSates is
join the league-Washington Post
We believe there would be furgality in the homes
men would give their wives a reasonable amount Of