Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-08-15
DELAYS IN. THE SENATE.

Everything points to an early set
Element of the league of nations prob
lem. There is growing Up in the
country a spirit of unrest and irrita-
ton because of the delays in the sem
ate. The people of the United State
want action. They became very inn
patient over the delays in Paris and
they are not disposed to wait unduly
long for action at Washington.
But there is another side to the
matter. Never since the adoption of
the constitution has anything so revo-
lutionary been proposed in this ma
ton, Not only is peace to be made but
as part of that peace it is pro-
posed that this country cease
to be free agent, in a greater or less
degree, and become subject to the
will of European and Asiat!c nations,
which have shown themselves incap-
able of successfully managing their
own affairs.
When we assume such obligations
and limitations, we depart radically
from the course laid out for us by
George Washington. Before the great
war came we had departed from
Washington's advice that prepared
ness for war in time of peace was the
greatest insurance against war. He
did not phrase it that way, but he
meant it that way. Now We know that
he was right and Pacifist Baker, even,
is demanding that this country have
universal military training and a
standing army of 100000 men so
skeletonized that it can be raised
instantly to an army of a million and
a quarter Ilen. That is a return to
the policy laid down by Washington,
with vengeance.
When Washington warned us
against entangling alliances. he was
quite as wise as when he warned us
to prepare in times of peace for war.
But it is probable that we shall have
to learn by experience to avoid en-
tangling alliances just as we had to
learn in war TO prepare for war in
times of peace. The war taught us
that Experience is dead school mas |
ter. as Benjamin Franklin tried to
teach US,
The indications are that the treaty |
is to be ratified with reservation. The
compromise is sure to involve a posi-
tive declaration regarding the Monroe
doctrine, which President Wilson pro-
posed to sacrifice in his draft of the
covenant. 1t will also make it clear
that Europe is to have no voice in
our domestic affairs, and that the
United States will withdraw from the
league whenever the United States
wills to do so.
But possibly more important than
any of these will be the declaration
that the United States. under Article
X, will not be obligated to go to war
and will not permit any president to
involve US in war. without the con-
sent of congress our war making
body under the constitution.
There may be other reservations,
but the four above mentioned are sure
to be incorporated in any ratifica-
ton of the treaty.
Because it was necessary for the
country to have clearly before tt what
the treaty really proposes to commit
us to. and because It was equally
necessary for the people to know why
the senate must. for the safety of the
nation. make certain reservations, the
discussions in the senate have been
longer than the country approves, be-
cause the country is prone to become
over delayed settlement of
even the most vital questions.
Yet make haste slowly. is a policy
so wise that it is accepted as pro-
verb in every language of the world.