New-York tribune., 1919-07-05
He Makes Answer to Root
Tells Methodists at Colum-
bus New Yorker Changed
His Position on Article X

Methodist Centenary Exposition this
afternoon.
Mr.. McAdoo spoke in part as fol-
lows:
I'VE are now facing the most crit
ical situation in which the world has
ever found itself, the disposition of
our victory. Shall we dispose of it
as narrow and heartless partisans
would have US do, SO that human
slaughter through war must still be
the arbiter Of the destiny of nations,
or shall we so dispose of it that the
glorious goal for which humanity has
strlven through thousands Of years
Of unspeakable misery, torture and
sacrifice shall now be realized-the
consolidation and organization of our
victory so that judicial processes shall
be substituted for the legahzed mur-
der of war in the settlement Of in
ternational disputes and the peace of
the world secured through the coop
eratlve effort of the great nations of
the earth?
"a league of nations to prevent
war would consolidate and organize
our victory and make practically GER
tain the peace Of the world in the
future. A blessing so colossal seems
unattainable, and yet it is within our
grasp if we have the vision, the cour-
age and the determination to take it.
Here is where the Church has It's
noblest opportunity, and because it
has the opportunity, 1t faces it's grav-
est reSpOnSlD Dility
we must not permit any man. or
set of men, to destroy the league of
nations; we must not permit any man,
or set of men, to emasculate it; we
must not permit any man, or set of
men, to put the peace of the world
again IN peril. The issue is SO moment
Gus that the very future Of civilization
IS at stake and humanity from every
striken quarter Of the suffering world
cries out in agony to Christianity to
save it,
Franklin Called "Dotard'
After asserting that the opponents
of the adoption o. the federal Con.
stitution called franklin a "douard, -
and Washington fool" Mr. McAdoG
continued:
''As the Constitution was great
progressive step IN liberty and peace
for the American Colonies, 50 the
league Of nations is now great pro-
gressive step IN the maintenance OF
liberty and dem ocracy and the preser-
vation of peace between the nations
of the world. Like Ahe Constitution.
it is the most gigantic step in CON
structlve craftsmanship since the for
nation of the Federal Union, and yet
1t is resisted by the same type Of un-
comprehending men who fought the
adoption of tha Federal Constitution.
They have the same obliquity OF vision,
the same selfishncss of view, the same
indifference to humanity and the same
lack of interest IN the masses OF man
kind. They regard war as an inerad-
lcable feature Of civilized society and
they look upon its recurrence with the
same bloodlessness OF sympathy which
characterized the opponents Of the
Constitution Of the United States.
They denounce the.league Of nations,
just as the opponents Of the Federal
Constitution denounced the Const4tu-
tion, as the most dastardly attempt
ever made against the liberties Of free
people.
"Mr. Root has recently surprised his
friends and admirers by urging that
Article X be stricken from the le"gue
tlon for his sudden change of position.
He is unable, however, to refute the
convincing argument he first made in
favor OF guarantees of the territorial
integrity and the political independ-
ence of all members Of the league OF
nations.
Would Extract Red CorpuscIes
ITO eliminate this guarantee is to
extract the red corpuscles from the
blood Of the league and render it a
weak and anaemlc institution incapable
OF fulfilling the purpose of its creation.
Unless the people of each nation can
be secured against external aggression,
territorial disputes, which have been
one of the most fruitful causes Of war
will continue to arise and jeopardise
the peace Of the world. 1t is not true
that this guarantee will involve
America in every future European war
that may arise and that we are com
mitted to an indefinite engagement to
send our sons to fight in unknown
and unanticipated European wars.
I'VE can always terminate the en-
gagement by Withdrawing from the
League upon two years previous notice
Article X will put an end to the menace
o. war from territorial disputes, but
II eliminated from the league, so that
these controversies remain a fruitful
cause Of war, then we shall be involved
again in European conflicts, because
1t is impossible to separate America
from the rest Of the world and leave
her in the imaginary isolation which
opponents of the league beguile them
selves into believing Is a sufficie Mt
security for our future peace.
'ln fact, the guarantee of territorial
integrity and political ependence
against external aggression only, as
Article provides, will not only pre-
vent war by deterring the signatcr ry
powers, from attempting it in violation
of this article, but in case of such
disputes the league itself supplies the
machinery for peaceful settlement
either by arbitration or by inquiry on
The part Of the council.
Foresees Imminent Peril
No amendments of the league of ma
tious, no reservations in the ratifica-
tlon OF the league by the Senate of the
United States, can be effected without
imminent peril to the future of the
world and without prolonging the state
OF war We cannot risk the undoing
OF all that has been accomplished by
forcing another peace conference at
Paris. Amendment Of the treaty is re-
lection OF the treaty. Rejection OF the
treaty means new peace conference
and the indefinite postponement of
peace. Let US not misunderstood that