The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-11

rectly--not on States which merely
lcagued themselves together, but would
not meet their several obligations even
for finances for the Congress. hut on its
own citizens; not looking TO the-leasuefl
States TO compel each other. but TO its
own Federal citizens to compel the
States.
The Union was something moro than
league OF nations. 1t was n nation,
; supernation, II you will. and IL pro-
! vided the Sanction though few under
| stood what it meant at the time, and the
+, South caught the meaning of 1Iamiltohs
wise forethought only after the war
which established the success of the
constitutional solution Of the lack OF a
sanction.
But are we ready TO become common
citizens of such a supernaton to which
We shall surrender at least n large
part. II not the greater part, OF the
powers of our Federal Government COM
Ing In only on a parity with Bolshcvik.
/ Prussian. Turk, Bulgar. Chinese and
Hun as citizens in new more perfect
| union"
t. a league OF nations of this char
aoter. constructed along the lines OF our
Federal Constitution, should be entered
en-. the new supernation would sue
coed to the powers Of the Federal Gov
eminent. which would be ipso facto
superseded Just in 10 far as the present
powers OF the Federal Government we're
accorded TO the supernatural govern
ment, leaving the United States per
taps a mere shell. Arc We prepared TO
urge such n supernat!on to destroy our
own Federal Government? | for one
vtlue my proud heritage az citizen
OF the United States more than that.
] can sec how we might possibly have
ar enlarged union OF these United
states, taking in England or Australia
OF Canada or South Africa or New
Zealand. with their similar institutions,
IN which all could enter on a common
footing: taking In perhaps. too, France.
Belgium, Holland Denmark. Norway.
Sweden and Switzerland, despite their
different laws and institutions. IL any
OF these were seeking any such union.
But how about Prussia. Russia. Turkey
China and Mexico? And is our system
adapted TO any but peoples trained IN
self-governnent?
am not ready TO support a futile
league merely likely 10 Involve us in
dispute. abandoning the policies alike
OF the Farewell Address and OF the
Monroe Doctrine. nor ready bl!ndly to
aid going into Il binding supernation
without knowing with whom we are TO
Join or how far. Every suggestion SO
far made. whenever we secure any
definition of its proposed terms. seems
either futile or bad. or both.
If IL be urged that what is planned
ia nm advancement of the cause of arol-
tration before The Hague tribunal,
respectfully submit that is not truly TO
DO described as league OF nations,
and that In the only case where that
plan has been put TO the test, the claim
o. Austria against Serbia in 1914, it
Utterly failed. fundamentally because OF
tho lack of A sanction" wherefore Ger
many and Austria believed themselves
strong enough 10 prevail in the arbitra-
ucnt of war; and proved worse than
-utlIe whom II forbade the Belgian free
ran TO take up hi, sword or gun in
aefenc. Of his own home, while il proved
i,relr nowcr|css 10 defend that home
from the forbidden barSarities Of tie
Itunr,sb invaders. and left the ancient
.sa,ctIon" O, war TO prove It's only
do,ence No declaration intended TO be
humanitarian was ever better calculated
to be subyersive OF human freedom than
, thin ATTEMPTED dental OF the anclen;
right OF the freeman TO bear arms and
defend his home. Under the guise OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS it sought TO serve
despotisnr May no league ever be en-
tered in, by this nation Of such char
acter.
This whole picture OF a league OF ma
tons, with no provision FOR real sane
ton az so far proposed, bears great
similarity 10 the imposing Nalhalla or
the back drop when Thor strikes with
, his hammer in the "Rheingold' The
towers and the p.nnacles are respfendent
In the sunshine. but the foundations are
srroudsd in mist and the way 10 thC
, towers is over a rainbow.
The requisite foundation Tor any sue!
, towering superstructure is real sane