Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-09
HOME AGAIN

$Efss AAc p1SS!0cL u le onAIeu SldIeS d SL0AHe
ON abroad, after several months spent in work as i'm
ortant as any that has fallen to the lot of statesmen
our own or any other times. With the exception OF
ermany and her allies every large nation was repre-
,nted at the conference which he attended and many
the small nations also had seats at the council table.
n many other occasions conferences have. been held
= prescribe terms of peace after a war. Very frequently
he peace was a sordid bargain, just as the war had been
piece Of brigandage. Usually the terms OF peace at
,cted only the immediate parties to the war, unless, as
as sometimes the case, one or other of the parties took
dvantages OF the situation to wiring a little territory. or
little tribute. or allittle prestige from a neighbor who
ad played the part Of innocent bystander.
The conference that has just closed was of a DIFF
erent sort. The belligerents associated on one side of
}ae great conflict were all there, as was customary, but
4 the outset of their meeting there was the firm and
sefinite purpose not merely to fix boundaries and assess
amages, but so to arrange matters that war on any
considerable scale, anywhere in the world, would be
endered. if not impossible, at least less probable. more
ihicult, and vastlyFmore unsatisfactory to the power that
revoked it. The. conference was one to arrange terms
e peace with Germany and her allies, but it was that
fastly more important thing, a conference to arrange, so
sar as human wisdom and determination could do il,
or the permanent peace Of the world. 1t was a pur-
rose born of necessity, but it was a noble purpose, never
heless, and all who have contributed to the furtherance
f the work are entitled to the gratitude of humanity
9or their work.
It ought to be a matter of pride to Americans that
The president of their nation has contributed so largely
md so ably to the work of the peace conference. There
ire many things about Mr.. Wilson that many people
10 not like. Some Of us find in his opinions, his manner
Ind his methods much that does not appeal to us. But
Woodrow Wilson has done a mans work at home in
Shaping sentiment for a vigorous prosecution Of the war,
and he has done a mans work at the peace conference
- shaping sentiment in the direction Of permanent peace
and neighborliness among the nations. No air-minded
man. while properly criticizing where he believes criti-
cisn to be merited, can fail. to give him due credit for
The exceedingly valuable work which he has performed.
There are some indications that President wilson's
greatest fight is yet to be made. The peace treaty now
jto be passed on by the senate contains provisions for
the creation Of a League of Nations. Of which the United
states = to be q member. By Withholding their approval
|ane-third Of the members OF the senate can prevent the
sseeatfications Of the treaty, and this some Of the senator's
ire AeterInined to do ii possible. Notice Of that intent
been given In public addresses in and out Of con-
56reMs and IN other ways. And the president has made
known that he VIII make an issue Of the treaty in the
HapaAktng campaign upon which he Will start Immediately.
lstattpg the case In person to - many Of the citizens of
United States as he can reach from the platform.
ina issue Is the League Of Nations. Nowhere is
atsplayed any special interest In the precise terms
sNefskhe treaty in SO tar - 1t Affects Germany alone.
t4ficaticn e opposed bscause the treaty contains pro-
aaSs1aIeesns forathe League OF NaHons. Come Of the ob3ectors
aSxSssfrank enough to declatna boldly against any league
f~S&atsver .sOthers are In favor Of a league. any league
t&&64Dt TIE particular one which It Is possible to sst. The
tEtSff50ns have been stated with = degree OF passion ana
ES4S16en Inst ~ appalling. Unless The Herald ID utterly
Me9aksa. The overwhelming sentiment Of the country
2gk6Stapce 81 the ratiflcation Of the treaty = ii stands,
MISREPRESENTATION and All not because the compact Il
EEflS6e1 ~ ~ bsst inAsirasis. but bsSanss II = r.