Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-12
Senator Calls it Deformed
Experiment With Noble
Purpose:
u. s. OWES NO DEBT
TO ANY NATION
Asks Why America Should Fetter It.
self and Surrender Our Position,
Our Independence and Az That
Monroe Doctrine Means Lodge
Thinks World Not Greatly Con.
eerned as to Fate Of League.


eerned as to Fate of League.
Washington, Aug. 12 - Describing
the league of nations as a "deformed
experiment upon noble purpose"
Senator Lodge. of Massachusetts,.
chairman OF the foreign relations COM
mittee and republican leader Of the
senate, declared in a senate speech to-
day that there were features Of the
league covenant which las an Ameri-
can he never could accept.
Creating. not league Of peace but
an alliance embracing many "provis-
ions for war;" the covenant in it's pre-
sent form. he asserted. would kill the
Monroe doctrine, nullify any possibili-
ty OF withdrawal from membership,
impair the sovereign power Of deciding
domestic questions, and plunge the
United States into every controversy
and conflict on the face Of the globe.
Let us beware" he said, "how we
palter with our independence. We
have not reached the great position,
from which we were able to come
down into the field Of battle and help
TO save the world from tyranny, by be-
ing guided by others. Our vast power
has all been built up and gathered to-
gether by ourselves alone.
"ows No Debt to Anyone"
I'VE forced our way upward from
the days Of the revolution, thru a
world often hostile and always indif-
ferent. We owe no debt to anyone ex-
cept to France In our revolution and
those policies and those rights on
(which our power has been founded
should never be lessened or weakened
/, Il viii, be- no serving to the world to
do 80 and It win be Of intolera BILE In
jury to the United States. We win do
our share. We are ready and anxious
to help in all ways to preserve the
worlds peace. But we can do 1t best
by not Gripping ourselves.
am as anxious as any human be
ing can be, to have the United States
render every possible service to the
civilization and the peace of mankind
but l am certain we can do It best by
not putting ourselves in leading strings
or subjecting our policies and our SOW
ereignty to other nations. I will 20 as
far as anyone in world service, but
the first step toward service is the
maintenance Of the United States. You
may call me selfish. If you will, con-
servative or reactionary, but an Amer
lean was born, an American I have
remained all my life.
Il can never be anything else but an
American. and I must think Of the
United States first, and when I think
OF the United States first in an ar
rangement like this am thinking o,
what is best for the world, for IL the
United States fails the best hopes O,
mankind fail with it. I have never
had but one allegiance-I can not di-
vide 1t now.
World Not Concerned,
The United States is the worlds
best hope, but II you fetter her in the
interests and Quarrels OF other nations
II you tangle her in the intrigues OF
Europe, you will destroy her power 70,
good and endanger her very existence
We are told that we shall break
the heart of the world of we do not
take this league just as it stands. /
fear that the hearts Of the vast major
ity OF mankind would beat on strongly
and steadily and without any quicken
Ing If the league were to perish alto
gether II it should be effectively and
benificiently changed the people who
would Ne awake in sorrow for a sin
gle night could be easily gathered in
one not very large room but those who
would draw along breath Of relief
would reach to millions.
Ideals W. Common Sense.
ideals have been thrust upon us as
an argument for the league until the
healthy mind which rejects can't revolt
from them. Are ideals confined to this
experiment upon noble purpose
tainted as II is with bargains and tied
to a peace treaty which might have
been disposed Of long ago to the great
benefit Of the world IL 1t had not been
compelled to carry this rider on its
back?
No doubt many excellent and pat
riotic people see coming fulfillment
4 OF noble ideals in the words league OF
peace we all respect and share these
] aspirations and desires, but some OF
4 us sec no hope, but rather cereat, for
them in this murky covenant. For
we, too. have our ideals, even IL we
differ from those who have tried to
establish a monopoly Of idealism. Our
first ideal Of our country. We would
have our country strong to resist a
peril from the west, as she has flung
back the German menace from the
east. We would not have our politics
\ distracted and embittered by the dis
sensions Of other lands.
Can't isolats United States. l55
4 HAN $50 far as the question Of isolation
goes, 1t is impossible to isolate the
United States. We may set aside all
this empty talk about isolation. NO
4 body expects to isolate the United
STATES .6r make 1t hermit nation