The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-09
II VIII Produce War.

II VIII Produce War.
1--WE are told that 1t will prevent
war, but Senator Knox has proved that
the league will produce war. Indeed,
oven the leagues advocates admit that
we, as a member. shall have to night
wherever and whenever we are ordered
to night. II we refuse we break the
treaty and thus invite the league to
make war on us.
III It be said that IN such a case
the league would not make war on us,
why have any league? And II our breach
OF the treaty would not cause the other
members of the league to attack us,
what one nation would make war on
us without so grave a reason?
After the demonstration OF our
power. unity and spirit in this war
everybody knows that no nation will
dare attack us. Does any nation want
to attack US? II SO, what nation? II
for moro than hundred years without
any such proof of our might as we have
Just given we had no foreign war ex-
cept our skirmishes with Mexico and
Spain, how long will we be let alone
now that we have shown our uncon-
querable strength?
1--WE are told that we shall disappoint
the world IL We refuse. II any business
house made contracts on that principle
how long would It keep out of bank
ruptcy? Who says the world will be
disa by what authority Is
this message delivered? or course cer-
tain European Powers would be diap-
pointed; because they have everything
to gain and nothing TO lose by getting
young, strong and solvent America to
underwrite their ventures. But, by the
same token, America cannot be blamed
for declining because America has moth
ing to gain and everything to lose by
such an arrangement.
What of the remainder OF the world ?
Will The nations OF South America be
disappointed II we escape the trap? Will
Norway ard Sweden and Holland and
Denmark and Switzerland and China and
Spain? Or do they no longer count? Now
that the test has come, are small and
weak nations no longer 10 be consid-
cred? What has become OF the self
determination of peoples: Last year
the heavens were clamorous with such
phrases--have these catch words so soon
been stilled. like many others with
which democracies have been deceived
throughout history?
Ocean Safeguards Us.
I'VE are told that the world has
changed. that the Atlantic Ocean has
been abolished. and that the counsel OF
George Washington Is out OF date. oh.
yes We hear. no doubt George was a
good man in his time but he Is dead and
we alive. Why heed voice from a
moss grown tomb: The steamship. the
telegraph. the wireless. the airplane,
have annihilated distance. Washington
is now 1870 years behind the times
yet narrow strip of water AMI a
strong feet saved England from inva-
sion In this war as fully as the same fac
tors have done for thousand years.
To-day France Is demanding. as her
surest bulwark against Germany, the
control OF the Rhine. a river no broader
than the Hudson. Small streams were
vital in this very war--the Marine in
France. the Pisve in Italy. Even the
Ypres Canal was critically important.
Nevertheless. In order to ensnare US per-
msneptly in Old World troubles, we are
told that the Atlantic Ocean no longer
amounts to anything.
''1f any European nation were situated
as we are, and had the advantages we
possess, does anybody suppose that that
European nation would enter partner
snip which took from her that situation.
and robbed her of those advantages?
Suppose the Peace Conference could
make the English Channel dry land and
proposed TO do so---whst would the Brit
ish nation say? Suppose Germany could
exterminate the Rhine and the Vosges--
what would France say? Yet we are
asked to consider the Atlantic and Pa
cihc as nom ex stent.
, I'VE are instructed that ~- can he no
- -