The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-07-18
By FREDERICK N. DAVENPORT.

Since the United States Senate is
Republican Republican leadership has
2 great responsibility and great op
pofnntty. Through the mist there is
beginning to appear the position that
america should take. And America
n can Eake her position only through the
SENATE. which is now dominantly Re.
publican, and two-thirds vote can
oe obtained for the Treaty only through
hhepublican majority. 1t is the Re-
publican party which is now to speak
Lor America, and not Mr.. Wilson.
a;his Is the result of the election re-
turns OF last November which indi-
81 Gated temper of mind unfavorable
% the continuation of the Wilson re-
gime in Washington.
VIII the Republican party rise to the
LEVEL of its solemn duty? Party lead.
ership has had golden opportunity
The psychology of America is against
me Democrats, and probably against
the President But the Republican
Senate has not yet succeeded in per
snading the American people that Ii
mas policy of its own. or in carrying
the public opinion OF the American.
people with 1t. Is it too late for Re.
publicanism to meet its vast respon.
\ s1btlity?
The issue is clearing Probably one
reason for the seeming impotence OF
the Republican leadership has been
that untA recently the issue has no,
been clear; that nobody in the Re-
publican majority had copy of the
Treaty; that covert and complicated
covenants, covertly Arrived at. are
hard to fathom and straight forward :
N3y to interpret to a hundred millions,
Z anyway.
Now that we know the provisions
andsthe stipulations, we are beginning
to see the light. The public opinion
OF the country is crystallizing. 1t is
evident that the American people be-
iieye that the suspense of continued
state OF war should cease. that some
sort Of a substantial and practical
league OF nations is a necessity for hu.
man progress. and that the instrument
embodyins the League and the Treaty
should be ratified. Arrangements for
delay and deliberation in serious dis
putes the provision to avert war by
Joint action. the recognition OF the
ai6hN ~ AiCSuOul VI IdICs Vi VtO-
pies. the measures TO maintain order
in the chaotic region east of the Rhins.
are indispensable 10 the continuation
Of an orderly civilization. So FAR the
American epople follow President VIII
son.
But there is a great current of influ-
Y Asnce which is not Wilsonian at ALL and
sMot yet Interpreted by the Senate
leadership at Washington. but which
Is in reality additionally American,
sminently sound. and comes along the
Hay Root Roosevelt line of political,
heredity. 1t represents the tradition
os foreign policy and of international.
ism which was at its best when Re.
pnblicanism was aforetime at its best
in the Mckinley and Roosevelt admin
istrat!ons The Hay-Root- Roosevelt
diplomacy was far more democratic
than the Wilsonian diplomacy has turn
ed Quito be. Take the provision in
the recent Treaty settlement abou;
Shantnng. practically guaranteeing the
imperalistic aims of Japan in China.
How far removed from the interna-
tionalistic ideals of democracy! How
far removed from Hays principle of
the open door. and the Root agree
ments with Japan with respect to uni
versal equality of opportunity in Chi
ma and the continuation of the open
door! Yet the Shantung settlement in
our Versailles Treaty seems to be di-
rectly in line with the upsetting of the
Root-Takahira agreement by the Ian.
sing 1shii agreement under the Will
sonian administration. The Lansing
lshii agreement recognizes the special
A3terest of Japan in China. just as the
Shantung provision clearly aims to
do. AT this point the Republican ira
dition runs much truer to democracy
than does the Wilsonian tradition as
,dtsclosed in the Lansing-Ishi agree
ment or the Shantung provision.
The feeling Of uneasiness about this
particular phase of the Versailles in
strument has been heightened by the
language in which reference has final
~ been made to the Monroe Doctrine
in the amendment to the original draft.
Regional understandings like the
Monroe Doctrine" are not to be dis
+ turbed. Now the Monroe Doctrine is
not a regional understanding. 1t is
g trespass notice warning Europe not
, to interfere with the developing free
dom and nationality of the peoples of
the Western Hemisphere. And here
again the way seems to be opened for
the imperalistic spheres OF influence.
Sand special interests of all sorts, which
Dire regional understandings, to OBJ.
tain new vitality and flourish with new
strength. ~
It Is no wonder that there has arisen
N feeling OF uneasiress and dispo-
ton to look more closely at the pro-
ions OF the League and the Treaty,
Nd growing fear in some quarters
that not only here but elsewhere in the
instrument the highly trained and
astute' diplomats of the foreign offices
of Europe may have put something
over on democracy an don the Presi-
dent. By such provisions democracy
e certainly made no safer for the
world.
The undertaking in Article x of the
Treaty ito respect and preserve as
against external aggression the terri
torial integrity and existing polttica.
Independence Of all members Of the
League" also brings out in bold relief
the sharp Cleavage between the Root.