Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-16

that If the reservation had been in
the Covenant itself no appeal to
that committee would be necessary.
The decision of the Supreme Court
barring the Southern States from
seeding in 1861 settled the reserva-
ton question for the United States,
and goes far to prove the impossi-
bility of the United States with
drawal from the League of Nation If
the reservations be not inserted in
the Covenant itself
Ex-senator Beveridge, of Indiana,
addressing the Bar Association of
Pennsylvania some time since, fol-
lowed this vein of thought. In re-
ferring to the Monroe Doctrine DIS
mentioned in the League Covenant,
he showed that it was mentioned
there, not so much to admit the
value of this doctrine in the eyes
of the American people, as TO
wheedle the nation by camouhaga
into acceptance of the League, as Il
worldwide recognition of 1t, but
more clearly defined than before.
When examined, the reference is
seen to define it as an "interna-
tional agreement or regional under
standing" rather than an establish
ed and most effective safeguard. Mr..
Beveridge rightly says, 'it is spe-
cifically and in unmistakable terms
nothing less than a surrender of the
Monroe Doctrine" Since it is de-
fined as above, if the Senate ratifics
the League Treaty, the United
States can no longer say what this
fundamental policy means but must
leave the Interpretation to a super
state. AS if to prove this, at the
very moment when this definition
was being embodied in the League,
the British delegates declared that
the Monroe Doctrine had ceased to
be an American policy" Is not this
prima facie evidence of the duplic-
ity that the Mother CD country"
has been so often guilty of?
What is the autonomous act that
determines the righteousness of any
government? Is it the at best limit
ed franchise of autocratic govern
ments, or is it the universal suf-
frage which prevails in our RepuE-
lie? Note the provisions of the vol
ing powers provided for the League
of Nations. Thirty-two nations aro
designated as members of this SUI
perstate. The British Empire is 10
have six votes distributed among
herself and her provinces. Each OF
the other thirty-one states, regard
less of size or civilization, is to have
but one vote. The smallest and least
intelligent of these nations has Il
vote equal to the United States, the
first nation in the world, while the
British outvote us to 1.
Seeing this outstanding injustice
we can but wonder by what ne
cromancy The Big -Four" could
have been inVeigled into inviting so
large number of small nations into
the League; or how our President OF
40 sovereignties could have been
willing to allow the British vote
for each of her provinces without
claiming the same right for each of
our 4S Commonwealths. On the
score of autonomy he should have
been satisfied with nothing less, for
our national constitution guarantees
perpetual autonomy to each State.
If the above be true, why did
not some member of our delegation
(regardless of their House) step fof-
ward at this crucial moment to de-
fend our nation against treachery?
Why should not such a proposition
have been strangled at it's birth,
rather than to be permitted to come
to place where hamstrung "resei-
vations' could do it no harm but
themselves become mere scraps of
paper?" If, perchance, any such
tilt was made our improvised diplo-
mat proved himself a mere tyro in
dealing with the legerdemain OF
quips and quirks of these pastmas-
ters in flank movements. The Amer
lean people have paid the fiddler to
the tune of $5,000.00O for the
1unket, while Johnny Bull maintains
HI nytt too L..
ing, heads win; tails you lose.'
In the face of this British aS-
gression let us say that from the
dawn of the Christian era we recall
no parallel so utterly indefensible,
not even the holocausts of the orig
inal Attila. the Hun, who by his
bloody deeds earned for himself the
name. The Scourge of God" With
the modern John Bull, of the
prefidious isle. rests the palm for
victory in the establishment of this
mongrel of n quasi-superstate.
But why continue the farce of n
contest that pales into insignificancc
when comnared with the hero OF
Cervantes, Don QuiXote in his battle
with the windmill? The tender.
mercies of the United States Senate
will either perpetuate this anomaly
or consign 1t 10 the depths of OBJ
livion. We wait to sec.
A. II. EGE.
Mechan!osburg, Pa, Aug. IA. 1919.