Evening star., 1919-02-27
Is National Power.

''The United States is a nation and
can make any treaty, alliance. league,
consolidation, confederacy or comb BIZ
nation whatever which can be made
by and between other nations, no
matter what their form of govern
ment," he declared. I'VE are COM
plete already and can do anything
that any nation can do The national
Congress or Legislature. which in
cludes the President. is charged with
the exercise of this power without
further action of the states or of the
people. This power can not be affect
ed by state action in any form but by
an amendment of the national Consti-
tuition. When Jefferson purchased
Louisiana he violated no constitution.
He exercised an inherent national
power and so preserved the sovereign
ty we possess today.
1t is already settled by the written
Constitution as construed by the
Supreme Court" continued Senator
Blair, referring to the criticism of the
league idea that it would fix the status
of the United States for all time, "that
treaty is superseded or repealed sim
ply by a subsequent act of Congress,
and an alliance or league is nothing
but treaty. 1t can be entered into
only when for the good of the nation
and should be abrogated when it fails
TO promote the public welfare. We
might be liable for damages to some
nation harmed by such abrogation, but
our power is unassailabIe
For Welfare of United States.
THE purpose of this proposed
league is to promote in the highest
degree the welfare of the United
States and Of all mankind besides. 1t
IS none the worse for the addition of
latter purpose. 1t is the only like op-
portunity that has occurred for 5000
years. If rejected God Himself must
be discouraged about us and repent
Himself that He made man at all. and
still more that He died for him, and,
considering what He has done for us
He must be especially ashamed of the
United States"
Senator Blair paused and then con-
tinued thoughtfully, having reached
apparently, the vital point of con-
structive criticism characteristic of
the man.
II think the league draft should
adopt a different basis of representa-
tion," he went on. "The basis should
be population, development and real
power and Importance in securing and
maintaining the objects of the league.
Think of Texas or New York in a ~
f'.nFi convention with Nevada, each
with one vote,
Proportions Voting Power.
THE United States should have, say
.."cHLy .oteS; England and Francs
hfteen EACH Italy twelve, Japan and
China twelve each, and smaller ma.
ti"ns from one upward. Canada. Aus.
traiia and South Africa should per.
taps be treated as separate nations
The other American nations should
be literally represented These ng.
nreS. which may not be the best, but
which viii suffice for the purpose ot
Illustration, must be fixed arbi,rar-
lily at first and should be subject tc
enafge by subsequent action of the
league, 1t is monstrous. it is stark in
sanity, to give Montenegro the same
voting power as France.
Provision by amendment should be
made for consultations. changes oi
boundaries of the various nations ir
the league. subject to its ratification.
Above all, every member of the
league should make provision for uni.
versal, popular, or would common school
education or democracy will never su-
persede autocracy, and all the world
should help all the world in this. II
SHOULD be the great work of the league
to see that the masses of the people
have common school education.