Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-10-18
LANSING PLEADS
FOR UNRESERVED
ADOPTION
To Reject League, He Says,
Would Be to Discourage
Future Attempts to OBJ
tain Unity of Action -
Democracy Is Only Gov
ernment That Assures
Peace
Republican A. p. Leased wire1

ALBANY, n. Y, Oct 17-Secretary
of State Lansing pleaded for the adop-
ton of the league of nations in its
present form eff for no other reason
than that to reject it would be to dis
courage future attempts to obtain
unity Of action among the nations in
an effort to avoid international CON
ficts," in an address on "the power
of democracy" before the New York
University regents tonight. Secretary
Lansing expressed the belief that "if
every nation was democracy in
reality, as is this republic. universal
peace would be an accomplished fact
and not goal toward which the world
looks with longing eyes striving to
devise methods by which it may be
attained.
Until democracy becomes the stand
ing policy Of civilization, other means
to insure to the world a continuing
state of international peace must be
found" the secretary said, in recon-
mending that the league of nations
be given trial in its present form.
Admitting for the sake of argu-
ment," he asserted, "all the faults and
undesirable features which its bitter
est opponents have raised against the
ought to be adopted and tried, for it
represents today an international con-
cert devoted to peace.
"The United States, am convinced y
he continued, will not be the nation
to check this movement or to dis
courage the civilized states of the
EARTH from seeking by united purpose
and counsel to restrain the use Of
forces in the settlement of disputes
If, after a fair trial, the league fails
to accomplish its objects, then is the
time by amendment to make the COW
enant more efficient. Such action as
that which was taken by the confer
ence in Paris when it adopted the COW
enant makes for peace but does not
insure its permanency. 1t is a power
full agency but not An all-powerful
one. The only certainty of unbroken
peace in this world, believe, lies in
the general adoption of democracy as
the supreme political principle of all
nations"
To-day" he said, "the rights of par
ticular classes over other classes OF
the population are being preached in
our streets, and appeals to selfishness
and envy, and to ignorance, under the
| guise of justice, are being sent broad
cast throughout the land. Apostles OF
unrest and even of revolution, as well
as others less radical and more sincere
taking advantage Of the industrial and
commercial confusion resulting from
the war, are seeking converts to doc
trines which aim to grant special priv
| ileges to certain groups of citizens and
| to deprive others of those private rights
which are inseparable from the Amer
tcan conception of individual liberty
Democracy is in danger, from witn-
In rather than from without the body
polite" he declared Again we Amer
leans are called to the defense Of ar
American principle which is being at
tackled not only by insidious foes but
| by friends who fail to see the wrong
which they are doing. We must NEE
this new attack with the same un.
yielding and courageous spirit as tha
with which our soldiers met with tn,
l Germans on the soil OF France,