The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-07-19
Re Tells Senate It Is One Of
S, Worlds Greatest
: s.s..is s.
Documents:
scathiing Exposure Of Partisan
ship OF Republican Leaders

atpr Swanson OF Virginia, a Demo
craticS member of the foreign relations
committee, told the senate today that
if the United States rejected the
league sit would mean that She Woaia
sknlk in the greatest world crisis thai
ever occurred"
The speaker defended the league
against thes objection that lit wculo
saerifiee sovereignty and American
traditions and asserted that on the
contrary. it would result in Immense
material gain in protecting Anerican
integrity and preventing war. he de-
clarea it would not create a su2e:'-
sovereignty, involve Objectionable OBJ
legations nor invalidate the Monroe
doctrine.
z ). THE pathway Of our duty is plain.
said Senator Swanson. Let us not
be- frightened by oar own .proaislous
shadow as it projects itself into world
affairs. Let as not be deferred from
our manifest duty and destiny by
craven fear of becoming great in CIV
ing service and direction to a world
m,azdire hour Of its needs and dis
treSa.''
Pointing out that the war had shak-
en- the social order to its foundation
the Virginia senator said it was a par
amount obligation Of responsible
statesmen to, prevent another such
conhagration, which would return the
world ito the rule Of brute force and
barbayism of the dark ages
She covenant of the league has
beea sassailed from two opposite
sesarces, = he continued. THE league
will neither be a sune-.-State nor SOY
eseign,, nor a helpless, powerless as
Sociatfon of nations The instrument
esating the league is a covenant en-
nered Unto by, sovereign States. One of
sIhe attributes Of sovereignty is the
abdiity to make covenants or agree
sSneMs.. That State reserves its full
sobereignty is conclusively settled by
! fhe provision allowing any member &c
withdraw. No nation, super or. other
!. Bise,s ever, thus expressly provided,
nseans for it's dissolution.
ss .ssT.his covenant, if ratified by the
Aenate, :. would be no more nor less
than a. treaty legalized under our con-
ssitIason.e The plan for the. formation
! s6fssthes league is skillfully. conceived
and the only one possible under ex-
tsti1g political conditions.
1.-THE assembly of the league will be
eq1aposed of Representatives of the
members, who will be selected in ac-
cacdance with the laws of the respec-
tive States. In the case of.the United
States. TIE Representatives being off,
eersS created by treaty, would oe ap-
pointed as provided by an act of con-
igFess. Much opposition has been urged
because a great nation like the Unit
ed States has only one vote in the as
ssmb1y. But, what difference does the
Aunber of votes make. whep~0pon all
mapoFtant nlattersxhs1Hion Of the
assembly mast be unanimous, or have
the unanimous concurrence Of the
council, upon which the United States
represented?
The league could never be organ
ized on any basis other than OF equal
representation. If members were ac-
corded difference in representation
Hnon what basis should the apportion-
msht be made? If upon population,
China and India would dominate the
IsaEue and the United States would
have only ene-flfteenth of the num-
gAne If based upen wealth and mill
1ary power, the situation would be
equally as uncertain and unsatisfac-
ToEy
! - What better plan for disarmament
could be devised? The council is di-
gected to prepare a general plan of
disarmament for the consideration of
the government. which plan is not
binding upon any Of the States until
approved by that State Under our
government. the proposed plan to be
reflective in binding us raust have the
sanction of congress which is en-
trusted under the constitution with
the power, of raising armies and
eauipping the navy.
Under article ten, each member Of
the 1eagHe undertakes, first to. respect
the territorial integrity and political
Independence of all other nations of
the league. When the nations of
the world, sobered by sorrow and aut-
fertng, are willing to raise their hands
and take this solemn pledge, are we
suHenly and stubbornly to stand aside
arid xbeconae stumbling block I'm the
way of the noble possessions that we
sFfeAWith ceyetous eyes and propose
to seize and annex?
Fhe second obligation assumed by
seSc member is to preserve as
:agxinst external aggression the terri
toFsai integrity and existing political
independence Of all members of the
aeague.n This is natural corollary
from the first. In the former. we un-
dertake not to rob our associates our
selves and in this we agree not to per-
NIT others to do so. This guarantee
OF Sferritoriafl integrity and political
Independence is limited to those cases
where they are threatened or attack
ed by external aggression and does not
apply to revolution within nation. A
nations internal affairs are left undis-
turbed. Nationality, with its vital
patriotism, would be pre-
served given new life and opportun-