Norwich bulletin., 1919-03-06
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The League of Nations.

ne League OF Nations.
Mr. Editor: But little progress is
being made towards any guarantee of
universal peace Ia contamination de-
voutly TO be wished through the
pending league of nations by our ex-
president referring as is reported in
his Cincinnati speech to the United
States supreme court in tlippant terms
or by any denouncing OF individual
senators by name or class.
Neither can eminent divincs, as
consecrated and as lofty in their
ideals as we all concede they are, at
this period of the discussion, help to
form a sound public opinion by pic
turing the awful and dire results that
they predict will fellow this nation's
failure to accept this compact as now
presented.
The warning of George Washington,
uttered by him in 1895, applies as well
to this present day as il dill then. Our
very entry in the late war is seal OF
approval on his words. He says:
Taking care to keep ourselves BY
suitable establishment, on respect
able defensive posture, we may safe
ly trust to temporary alliances for
extraordinary emergencies.''
Whether we are classed in our re-
lationS with our allies in thu recent
war as friendly belligerents" or by
some other name matters little. Sure
ly the emergency was extraordinary
ADD we finally recognized it but who
would say that a permanent alliance
must follow
There are those of us who will
continue to hold certain fixed opinions
supplies and moral support played lin
bringing about Gerinany's defeat
Without that support the result would
have been far different and not pleas
ant to contemplate.
The solemn import of Washington's
words need to be considered row by
those of cur people who would per
mancnt|y ally this nation with the
SCalousies, -nt".gu2s ami inac!linl-
| Ions of Eu"F eln politics
Washington asks: why quit cur
own to stand upon foreign ground :?
Why, by Interviewing orr ceStiny
with that Cf any part of Europe, err
tangle our peace and prosperity in
the tolls of European ambition, rival
ship, interest, humor or caprice""
We may we'll ask ourselves these
questions at this day. We should not
! Try and avoid or apologize for Ger
tain fundamental principles nor fail
! to recognize and take account of the
frailities Of human nature.
! We are seeking after vain gods in
| this attempt to internationalize the
world. In the proposed compact but
| che republic besides our own is at
present considered as Il PARTY. The
other proposed high contracting par
| ties are monarehies and some of them
most despotic monarchies. Washing
| ton again says:
| oH
| terests, which to us have none, or a
very remote relation Hence, she
must be engaged in frequent eoutro-
Versies, the causes of which are es-
| sentiaIly foreign to our concerns.
| hence, therefore, 1t must be unWisa in
US to lmphcate urse!ves, by art!-
neral ties, IN the ordinary Yicissi-
luueS OF hef Pollllcs' or the ordinary
com olhatlohS ana coltlsions or her
friendships or enemIueS.'
We surrender TO the organization
now proposed portion of our soy
efelghiy'
asillhgIoh iuftnef says llar-
lnohy" ana a liberal intercourse with
an nations are recommended by pol
ICY. humanity and interest
NO one IS disposed to depart froIr
that terelSh policy now a love OF
humanity and some other considera
tons prompted us to declare war OF
SPAN return to emma the indemnity
following the Boxer uprising. and
forced us INTO the recent conhlct. /
was not the declaration that we ar,
TOO proud to fight"
One of the effects of our becoming
q party to the pending compact a
Versailles will be our solemn ohliga-
ton TO accept its Interpretation of GU
Monroe doctrine. This doctrine Sc
forth in President Monroe's MESA g
IN 1923 has been strictly adhered u
, and been accepted by although force
, upon the other world powers. MI