The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-06-06
THE FIGHTERS OPPOSE THE LEAGUE.

QulVe Vie oPihioho VI FhnieiiSah
have been sounded the proposal that the United States
should join the league of nations. The 100000 men,
here and abroad who have had the prospect Of death
thrust before their eyes, the bone and snew of this
nation They will be the ruling power in politics,
if they are not already. Their votes will not be east
en- bloc of course but nevertheless they entertain
tain views which will tend to consolidate their influence
at the polls On such broad question as American en-
tanglements in Europe, which abrupt break
with the traditions of the republic the soldiers have set
tied convictions The great majority of them opposed
to the proposition
Friends and opponents of the league of nations have
not failed make of soldier sentiment They know
now where the soldiers stand League advocates like
Mr. Taft are well that if the plan succeeds it will
be the protest of majority of the men who fought
the battle of America and France Likewise opponents
of the project are encouraged in their attitude by the
hearty approval Of the soldiers officers and men, who
enter strenuous objection against arrangement which
would require them to fight in foreign lands at the be-
hest of foreign commission.
The soldiers reasoning might be fairly summed up as
follows The United States was the decisive factor in the
war; because it organized and operated its men and re-
sources in its way, its time and its place.
The United States is the strongest nation earth and
is people have capacity for directing the course of their
countrys government. Their combined common sense
strikes middle course between impulsive acts leading
to war and tmid policies inviting attack The nation
picks its friends and aids them effect lively in its
When the United States is strong France is strong
Weaken the United States and you weaken France You
weaken the United States when you disable its power of
lecson You disable its decision when you transfer the
direction of its policy to council composed mostly of
foreigners who do not know the United States the
American spirit.
The United States cannot be expected to know more
than France regarding French governmental affairs, poll
cies and international relations Nor France, much
less Greece Jugoslavia be expected to know better
than Americans what is good for America.
The United States army went to France to beat the
Germans. The task performed. The army should
come home when peace made. Peace does not require
an entangling alliance compelling American forces to
emain in Europe The European vctors have sufficient
forces to hold Germany down. Every American soldier
could and should be sent home The prime of war
is Germany and Germany is down and out If in the
future the free nations neglect their safety by per-
hitting Germany and her aecompshes to reorganize for
war; and should ask the United States to help them
will then be time for Americans to decide where their
duty lies.
The success of the United States as a union is no
precedent for league of nations but rather warning
against inharmonous and antagonstic grouping Of
nations Each nation that has any strength at all is dis
nctve, strongly indivduazed, with deep national pas
lions which do not blend with other national passions by
the artificial act of forming league. By remain
ing strictly independent, each nation is at its best If its
aspirations toward justice and freedom it will gravi
tate toward other nations with the same sentiments and
common danger threatens it will form alliance to
make Its people, however, do not change their
nature and all efforts to denatonaze them and merge
which lead to disaster.
The fought and won by patriots, fired by love
If particular nations The league of nations is
tally attack upon patriotism. 1t would subject patriot
SIN to superior rule of internationasm, executed by
body of superior to the national authorities Pres-
lent Wilson himself would be slave of his creation
md would either take orders from Geneva repudate
his league.
This, substantially the opinion of majority of the
officers and of the United States army ascertaned
" dlgent inquiry If advocates of the league doubt this
statement let them make fair and square inquiries al
he nearest cantonment-Wa Washington Post
June-Here comes the bride