The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-25

/ vHnced and independent nations OF
the earth in some formal wnv pAsdE
ing the honor OF the respective coulA'
tries 10 do ell in their power TO pre-
vent war and maintain peace. This
can be done without the sacrifice of
the principles and constitutions OF
such countries. and they will pre-
serve their flll independence to ACT
in all matters which might arise com
corning their rights and privileges,
and for that matter a court of arhi-
lration could be established and
differences arising between the ma.
tlons so agreeing could be adjusted
in the usual WY, by selecting disin'
Jerested arbiters from the NATIONS
10 hear and determine the dispute,
The penalty Of refusal TO abide by
such arbitration would be the horrors
OF war as To the parties involved.
The proposed league of nations is
nothing more than consolidation or
trust OF all the Independent nations
Of the world into one grand cnnbina-
tion with executive Legislation and
judicial powers This power Will
deal with the individual nations the
same as a EreEt consolidated coupo-
ration would deal with its stock
holders. the stockholders In the IN.
slant case being the nations so en-
tering the leaEue. In fact, this coun.
Try of otzrs will have very little to
say about its internal or external
affairs and can only appeal TO the
league powers and abide by the de
cisions reached. Where is the end,
and where does our declaration OF
independence, our bin Of rights, our
Monroe doctrine, our constitution,
our flag, our land Of liberty, the
home of tbs oppressed OF all nations,
come in?
We have done well SO far. Our
very independence and great power
was the signal TO victory in this war,
The ahig four" which assume the
duties of executive council OF this
world combination have not been
abs, SO far, To satisfy themselves in
the partiIioning Of the world propo-
Eition. One OF the fourteen points
was intended TO preserve the bound
airy lines Of the existing countries rs
they were before the war, but among
the first things done was to establish
SOME nssy countries ONT Of the Dor
ders of the old, and define their
rights ailc powers, and in this way
the peace of the world was TO be en-
forced; but no sooner had this gen
eral claim been made than we were
called upon 10 aid existing countries,
England, for instance. in retaining
her boundary over Ireland and her
internal affairs here at The -hresh-
cid. Instead Of this point enforcing
peace, il enforces war, and We are
now experiencing the entangieme nts
and mixup Of these people in our own
land
We are discovering many germs Of
war instead Of peace, which al go
to prove this utter 9utility Of this
league conception, and our fathers
and mothers are never going to CON
sent 10 any league combination or
authority made up, wholly or partial
~, of the powers OF Europe. 10 say
this boy or that must leave his
home, family and country and sac
rIfice his life ON the bloody field OF
battle ON the order of any people or
country save the one of our glorious
flag ind To save that and the liber-
ties of our blood-nDught freedom.
They need no ordeT-0nly permits
sion.
We can better serve all the peopls
by first serving Our OWL, and let
every other country do likewise
Let s go the old way and never lower
the old tag one inch for anybody.