The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-02-26
49, - - y y
YOUR DUTY TO THINK IT OVER.

The League of Nations per Sc, this newspaper does
not oppose. but it is decidedly against any "entangling
alliances" with foreign nations unless the idea is submit
ted to the people of America for a referendum. 1t OBJ
jects TO power vested in one man to sign away the herit-
age of this country-freedom. There has been a good deal
of hag-waving and a good many spread-eagle speeches
made by politicians and orators about freedom. but the
fact remains that our forefathers fought and bed for it
and millions came 10 this country because it stood on the
mountain peak OF freedom. isolated. dominant. proud and
far-seeing. Freedom made this country the greatest in
the world-bar none.
This newspaper does not by any means set itself up
as a critic of President Wilson's eeague of Nations idea
because of any superiority of intellect or perfect famili-
arity with the meaning of the league draft. No one man
owns all the brains in this world and no one newspaper
is qualified to say it is right and others are wrong. This
newspaper will admit that it may be wrong in its CON
ception Of the League of Nations. 1t will even go farther
than that and admit that it does not understand it, but it
considers that it has a right to think and to ask questions,
We do no believe in locking the barn door after the horse
is stolen and We do believe that the American people
ought to understand perfectly and with the greatest
clarity what Washington may sign away fer il.
We believe thoroughly in the Monroe Doctrine as
Grover Cleveland believed in it and as Theodore Roose-
Welt believed in it and the American people may rue it
to their sorrow if they do not convince themselves that
the League of Nations does not jeopardize the Monroe
Doctrine. We do not believe that the United States
should be coaxed. hired or forced to pull any chestnuts
out of the fire for Great Britain. France or any other
European nation We disagree with Wilson when he says
that the men of this country went TO Europe as cru
saders. That's all very fine to listen to and to read. but
they went to Europe simply because it was feared that
the murdeTous German junker would eventually set his
paws on American soil and they went to put a stop to it.
The Yankee soldier clipped the claws of Prussianism
and he did a good job Of it. Without him they never
would have been clipped. The job is done and America
is done. 1t is time now for 10 attend to our own bust
ness. We haYe plenty of il to attend to.
1t is pointed out that the constitution of the League
of Nations provides that in case a dispute arises between
two nations parties 10 the agreement. it shall be submit
ted to arbitration. If thus arbitrated. the decision must
be accepted by both powers. But if any power shall re-
fuse to accept the result of the arbitrament, and war re-
suits, all the nations shall Join the nation in whose be-
half the verdict has been rendered, in waging war upon
the power which refuses to accept the decision.
Suppose this country should again come into con-
hict with Japan in the matter Of excluding oriental i'm
appeal to the associate powers, suppose, on the abstract
immigration. the decision would be against Us. Would
we be able to force the acceptance OF the situation by the
American people?
Suppose. on the other hand, that France and Italy
should come into conflict. that the decision should be
against France and that war should result. Would it be
possible to induce the American people to send an ex-
petition to Europe to wage war upon France
If this great country is to help keep the peace of the
world and to butt into every little c%lothesline squabble
that Europe engages in, why it IS time that the people
should know it.
will be situated so. that it viii be necessary to call out
the fire department every so often and if the American
people propose to keep a fire department to be sent to
Europe to extinguish conhagrations we miss our guess
It is absurd to think that the league covenant can be ar
ranged to stop wars. The day will never come when