The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-03-13
ALL YEARN FOR PEACE

That our republican senators could
not lay aside politics until after the
League of Nations, which promises to
abolish war between nations in the flu
ture, is finally settled, is most regret
table.
President Wilson is recognized the
world over as the strongest advocate
for world peace, has the confidence Of
all the people, and is the leading spirit
at tho Peace Conference in which he
took the most prominent par. in draft
ing the constitution of the League.
BY hercuean effort, By compromis-
ing and harmonizing he finally obtain
ed the best he could obtain, he sue
ceeded in getting all the nations at
the conference to agree to the consti-
tuition of the League, and ali that is re-
auired to complete the League is the
ratification of the Senate of his own
country.
After Wilson's return he laid the con-
stitution before the Senate, when the
leading republican senator's made finn
sy objections to it in order to defeat
it, presumably because they feared that
its adoption, the greatest reform of
all ages" would be credited to Presi-
dent Wilson and the democratic party
at the loss of the republican party
Therefore 81 republican senators
we're induced to sign a pledge not to
vote for ratification of the League.
This then drew the League into the
arena of party politics. If these sem
ators found valid objections to the
constitution, why did taey not suggest
amendments and ask Wilson to lay
them before the conference after his
return to Paris. All indicated that they
were against any League not created
by them.
When a democratic president and a
republican ex-president who have stu
died world peace deeply for years, and
other true patriots favor the adoption
of the leagues constitution, should not
we follow their judgment rather than
the 81 round-robin politicians who can
not all have expert knowledge, as Will
son and Taft have?
Now supposing we do not join the
League of Nations, what then? We
may safely assume that every other
nation join for its own protection.
Then we will stand alone against the
whole world, a most forsaken position,
But | hear the Jingoes eXclaim.
What of it? We can defy and lick the
whole world"
Yes. my dear, brave fellows. per-
haps. But to risk this we must have a
standing army and navy of immense
proportion, be continually on guard, in
suspense and fear of attack, and then
not be sure of absolute safety. Such
tense preparation with the attending
sacrifice would be unbearable and a
ruin of our country.
And lastly, if the whole League Of
Nations should be abandoned and the
nations left to settle their disputes or
satisfy their selfish greed or ambition
by the force of arms, as of old, then
all nations with jealousy hatred, and
revenge, engendered by the lasl
will arm themselves to the teeth, 81
as to be prepared for the next war,
which, by new inventions of more
deathly machinery, will turn the whole
world into a slaughter pen.
Our people, except some war profit
GERS and extreme militarism would
vote overwhelmingly for the ratifica
ton of the Constitution of the League
in its present form rather than en-
danger its adoption by long wranglng
over amendments. All realize that a
League of Nations is the only hope for
lasting peace, for which all are pray
ing j. S.