Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-06-06
Friday, June 6, 1919.
oraanixs, Standardixs, Advertise
and Patronizs Maine products. This
slogan Of the Stats Agricultural
and Industrial League 10 . pretty
good one for the people Of Maine to
follow.
The Duty Of America.

Inc Out] OF Amefieds
We have been surprised and panied
at the source of some Of the most
bitter partisan opposition to the
League Of Nations. to any league Of
nations that should be actively es-
poused by prominent members Of the
other party. In this opposition that
is becoming markedly partisan, we
find three distinct demands, each
urged as vitality necessary to any
covenant which Americans could ap-
prove, and each well calculated to
mean the death and interment under
coming ages Of civilization of any
thing that puts political manipula-
ton and chicanery beyond the power
of an oligarchic group Of any ma
ton. Seldshness. greed and unscru-
pulous ambition are the everlasting
foes Of so-called "idealism." That
is the first denunc!atory sueer
against any plan that would do away
with the old systems-systems that
we're operated in the same way when
the 'Idealist" Jesus Christ offered
something better than war for the
settlement Of human disputes and
the adjustment of political equih-
BRUINS.
OF these three demands the first is
that the League Covenant must be
separated from the Peace Treaty.
whatever the latter may provide. be-
cause, o. course. that would mean the
end Of the League.
The second is that 1t be amended
to death or to uselessness. so that
none will care enough about it to
await the working out Of such
amendments in the Peace Congress
mill.
And third. to make Of the League
proposition a party issue and at
tempt to whip all those Republicans
who believe in n'something better than
militarism into line.
1t Is evident that the fools among
the leaders Of Republicanism are not
all dead. The Chicago folly and its
disastrous results were not suf-
acient There are still those who
would permit a never-idle politician
who has swallowed the Democratic
party, soul and body. to put the
stigma Of war party upon Repubn
cans, after fighting to destroy mill
tarism.
The big significant thing in front
Of American eyes today is that upon
the American people rests the re-
eponsibflity for making peace per-
mAnent-and the responsibility for
defeating it will damn the Republi-
can party for a generation.
We cannot yet fully credit the ap-
parent tendency Of certain Republi-
can leaders to back the propaganda
now urging destruction Of the league
OF nations ideal for the sake Of
venting spleen against an hdroit
political enemy who had brains
enough to take advantage OF the
psychology growing out Of hatred OF
war. and militarism. ana prepared
ness, and conscription, and admins
trative trickery. and proflteering. and
shameless capitalization Of wars
business opportunities.
No party Of any nation or age has
made more creditabfe war record
than has the Republican party. and
we are amazed that leaders Of such a
party should now. in blind rage at
having a contemplate deal put
over on" them. turn away from the
only truly progressive course. We
believe that Republicans should
seize this opportunity to prove their
Americanism bigger than political
ensency. and make good their proud
boast Of never failing patriotic serv-
ice.
The League Of Nations escape from
var 10 possible, In spite Of sophists
and plain liars. II it Is defeated it
viii be deliberately by selfish and
crooked interests. The make shift
excuses and shallow pretenses Of
fered against international pledges,
treaties and provisions that will
prevent war Of q scale greater than
tribal clashes. are bound to be shown
UP. for effective measures are en-
tire1y possible without involving the
precious isolation upon which soph-
lsts nov suddenly harp.
The masses may be fooled for q
hme - 70 the value Of these specious
claims. as they were fooled by he
Kept u out Of war;" but they are
bound to realize and react against
any party that turns this nation
hack to the old war and prepared
mess, and oonscrtption. ana army
control plan that has been the pet in.
ktrument Of the devil down through
lAe ages
We believe that ths party which
takes . stand against progresA out
Of revenge or any other auimus, re-