The sun., 1919-09-06
@NG@@

people and after you have changed
the attitude of the world what have
you produced? Peace? Why, my
fellow citizens, is there any man here
or any women, let me say, is there
any child, who does not know that
the seed OF war in the modern world
is Industrial and commercial rivalry?
Ladies and gentlemen, I don't
say IL because I am an American. and
my heart Is full of the same pride
that fills yours with regard TO the
power and the spirit of this great
nation. but merely because II is
fact which 1 think everybody would
admit outside Of America as well as
inside of America, the organization
Contemplated by the League of Ma
lions without the United States
would merely be an alliance and not
a league of nations. 1t would be an
alliance in which the partnership
would be between the more powerful
European nations and Japan, and the
other party to the world arrange
ment, the antagonists. the disassocia-
tive party, the party TO be standing
of and to be watched by the alliance,
would be the United States of Amer
lea.
Rest of World Our Rivals.
This war was a commercial and
Industrial war. It was not a political
war. Very well. then, II we must
stand apart and be the hostile rivals
of the rest OF the world, then we
must do something else; we must be
physically ready for anything TO
come. We must have a great stand
ing army. We must see to II that
every man In America is trained to
arms. We must see to II that there
are ammunitions and guns enough
for an army. That means a modified
nation. They are not only laid up
In store but they are kept up to date
so that they are ready TO use to-mor-
row. And what does that mean? Re-
duction of taxes? No Not only the
continuation of the present taxes but
the increase Of the present taxes; 1t
means something very much more
serious than that
We can stand that 20 far as the ex-
pense is concerned. n we care TO
keep ZIP the high cost OF living and
enjoy the other luxuries that We have
recently enjoyed. But what is much
more serious, we have got to have
the sort of organization which Is the
only kind of organization that can
handle armies OF that sort. We may
say what We please of the German
Government that has been destroyed,
my fellow citizens, but II was the
only sort OF government that could
handle an armed nation. You can't
handle an armed nation by vote. You
can't handle an armed nation II It
Is democratic, because democracies
don't go to war that way. You have
got to have concentrated. milltaris-
tic organization OF government to
run a nation of that sort.
And you can't watch other nations
with your unassisted eye. You have
got to watch them by secret agencies
planted everywhere. And let me
testify to this, my fellow citizens.
not only did not know II until we got
into this war but / did not believe II
when was told that ii was true.
Germany was not the only country
that maintained secret service.
Every country In Europe maintained
it, because they had to be ready for
Germany's spring upon them, and the
only difference between the German
secret service and the other secret
services was that the German secret
service found out more than the
others did
Under the league plan the financial
leadership will be ours. the Industrial
supremacy will be ours, the CONNER
cial advantage will be ours, and the
other countries of the world will look
to us, and, shall say. are looking to
US, for leadership and direction.
Armed Isolation an Alternative.
Very well. then. II 1 am to COM
pete with the critics Of this league,
and of this treaty. as a selfish Am
erican / say l want to get in and
get in as quick as / can 1 want TO
be inside and know how the thing is
run, and help to run it, so that YOU
have the alternative armed isolation
or peaceful partnership.
Can any sane man hesitate as to
the choice, and can any sane man
ask the question, Which is the way
of peace?
] have heard some men say, with
an amazing ignorance. that the cove
nant Of the League OF Nations was
an arrangement for war. Very well.
The other arrangement what would
1t be? An arrangement for peace.
Cor kindness, for cooperation?
Would everybody beckon US to their
markets?
cannot bring my credulity I'D to
that point / have reached years OF
discretion, and / have met some very
young men who know a great deal
more than some very old men. There
isn't phrase OF doubtful meaning in
the whole document.
And what is the meaning? II Ia
that the covenant of the League of
Nations Is a covenant OF arbitration
and discussion.
Had anybody ever told you that
before2 dare say that everybody
you Rave heard about this document
discusses Article X
Well. there are twenty-five other
articles In II and all of them ara
about something else.
ThAv diacusa how aoan - -