The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-05-27
The TEST OF THE LEAGUE.

minded and progressive Amerlcans has system OF IN
ternaonal control of been perfected which
uses and requires Americans to subordinate their gov
ernments to it?
Americans are studying the plan of the proposed league
of nations with great and impartiaity. They are
predsposed to favor any plan adopted by the delegates
at Paris but will not commit themselves irrevocaby I'M
til they have applied the touchstone of Amercanism to
the proposal.
The Paris peace conference is made up of majority of
individuals who are not Americans and who cannot be
pected be familiar with the peculiar structure of the
United States government The aspiration of all
peoples is to find of aboshng war; and the peace
delegates have responded to this aspiration by working
faithfully the project of international league which
shall have power regulate the relations of nations with
one another and in certain to disarm even ami
hilae nations bent The question that occurs to
many Americans is whether the Paris delegates, in their
eagerness to frame league have not ignored difficulties
which cannot be ignored and which, unless mastered Will
make fruitless all the labor performed at Paris
Sympathizing with the basic idea advocated by Presl-
dent Wilson, Americans compelled to apply the
test to the composite constitution which has emerged from
the Paris conferences Is it in harmony with the Amer
can system of government? Is it eectua for its purpose
and incapable of being used for evil purposes? Are the
fundamental rights of the United States and its citizens
safeguarded?
Americans do not yield to foreigners in their admira
ton of the determined spirit with which President Wilson
drives forward with his plan for world league But
Americans have advantage foreigners in the fact
that they intimately acquainted with their own govern
ment and spirit of America When they scrutinze Mr.
Wilson's plan it is not in criticism of his hearts desire
but in keen examination of the work of his will and head
as necessarily modified by the foreign influences at Paris
They readily admit that America cannot monopolize all
the good ideas in the world but the other hand they
insist that Americans know best what good for America
If they called upon to state their attitude in SEN
tence, they might say this "We know that Mr.. Wilson
to do right and must be convinced that he
is right"
President Wilson will return and make faithful state
ment to the people of his purpose and how it is to be
accomplished by of the league of nations. He will
have fair hearing from all persons who honest
There is no partsanshp in this business President Will
son himself emphaticay stated in New York before
turning to Paris, He suggested that party could mo-
nopze the credit for the league and that party would
dare to oppose it, In the final test it may develop that
party would dare to claim credit for the league and that
all parties will try to monopoze the credit for opposing
lit.
Mr.. Wilson will be handicapped in the presentation of
the leagues because of the general opinion in Amer
that he put the before the horse in forming the
league before making peace The practical American cit
izen that Germany beaten, and the next step
to his logical mind was the making of quick, strong
peace and the shipping of the boys back from Europe
Americans went reluctantly into Europe and only be-
cause of necessity Their first desire to get out of
Europe They surprised and disquieed when they
Mr. Wilson enter into engagements which involved the
United States government in European disputes and
CURED American soldiers to remain in Europe for in
definite time. 1t will take much explaining to convince
the average American that unavodaby necessary
to participate Europes disputes, to the point of
parceling out town here to party and river there
to another with the United States setting itself up
Invaluable judge of right and wrong in old controversies
going to the very of the human The average
American is apt to ask What had that to do with licking
Germany? After Germany licked, why didn't you
tie her down and bring the boys homer"
No American will dispute the statement that peace in
Europe is complicated problem, but many Americans
will disagree with the proposition that is Americas duty
take part in Europes disputes from this time forth for
Every American is willing to go back to Europe
to fight in defense of free government against attack
formidable enough to the worlds freedom. Few
Americans be found, in opinion, who will be will
ing to pledge themselves foreigners to go back to Eu
rope to fight for any Post
There paror socialism, but its defect is that the par
lor is too far from the pantry.