The Washington herald., 1919-03-04
LEAGUE
BINDS NATIONS
FOR ALL Time
Senator Sherman Declares
Covenant Surrenders u. S.
Sovereignty.
BOUND HAND AND FOOT
Bonds May Only Be Severed
by War or Burst by
Revolution.

ne senatorial dlldCh upon IIItsl-
dent Wilson's plan for a league of
nations was continued yesterday,
Senator Sherman, Of Illinois, de-
liyering a three-hour speech against
IL.
Senator Sherman's address was
srgumentatiye and dispassionate.
He referred to the proposed league
as "Pandora's Box of Evil to
empty upon the American people
the aggregated calamities of the
world" and said President Wilson
was either a usurper or a dictator.
who authorized the President
TO rear above the republic an au-
tocratic powerr'
He said the President has no au-
thority to trade the sovereignty
OF the American people" for the
establishment of the league. He
warned his hearers that If the
league plan were once adopted it
could never be set aside and that
II the American government en-
tered into it a step would be taken
which could never be retraced. lie
added:
Future Generations Bound.
Nothing but the sword can ever
cut its bonds il once we are en-
tangled in its fatal meshes. We
deliver future generations bound
hand and foot and voice to Europe.
The ties burst by revolution, the in
dependence won on the field, and
preserved by the genius of self
government are the idle reminis-
Cence of yesterday. We are swept
into endless feuds and ambitions of
the old world. whether they con-
Germ US or not. We condemn the
young men of future years to pay
the penalty of our alliance with
the struggles of every nation
everywhere. 1t lowers our flag and
floats above it the symbol of alien
power
Nation Loses Sovereignty.
Senator Sherman characterized
the proposed league as "a nameless
thing to sit in star-chamber judg-
ment and decree implicit obedience
to its mandates" He said such a
power could not be superimposed
above a nation Of free men. He de-
CIared that the league would have
power, TO embargo our commerce,
tlOse our exchanges, destroy credits,
leave our merchandise rOtting on
the piers. shut the Isthmian Canal,
order Congress to declare war, levy
taxes. appropriate money. raise and
support armies and navies, and dis
patch our men to any quarter Of the
globe to fight and die because an
alien executive council has willed
H." He added:
League Exceeds Constitution.
Who authorized the President to
car above the Republic an auto
ratio power? Is il another plunge
20 the bOttOmIess abyss of unde-
ined implied war. powers? Search
he executive powers enumerated in
.he only instrument that gives him
official being. Scan the Constitu-
ions every line in peace, and no
warrant vests in him such a wide
each Of power. What war author
ty as COmmander-in-Chi does he
Weld 10 join with foreign govern
neuts t. make this Republic the
gervant Of alien and distant pow IS?
: the authority to erect over US
ind our government a dominant rule
II assembled nations to be implied
rom the sword?
MisnOmer for Peace.
Some men change their minds
tbOut a prlnClpie. DuL can never
.hanEe their minds about name.
Without their misguided activities
he corOner's Office would lose much
# its excitement and life insurance
would cost less. They are constant
V drinking out of the wrong bottle
nd are the predCstined and chronic
HCtims Of misbranded goods. To
hem death is preferable to a loss
T faith in the Ia bel
Others suffer from the autOin-
oxication OF excess in phrase max
nE- The world 20 them is a gram
mar school.
Busy tongues hasten to call il
he peace league. not merely the
aaguo of nations. War has taken
l. toll from the American home.
he empty chair cries to the heart.
'eaCe fen like a benediction from
Ieaven. The wish rises father to
he thought that the scOurge of war
nay never sweep again the sons of
len in its whitening breath"
You stand mp for the National