The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1919-09-19
Democratic Ticket.
DERvIsH DANCE.

lofty elevation among men as citizen,
but, with Hiram Johnson and Jimmie
Reed and a few others more or less
jealous OF popular clamor, he is about
to become small potato. These men
are trying to do the American people .
very great injustice, and they would if
they could. But they can't.
Under the protection of the English
navy America went to war with the
Entente Allies. Otherwise America
could not have landed her troops in
France, and otherwise America could
not have thrown her fighting forces
against the common enemy. Under
the protection OF Englaud's sea power
and the brotherhood of France, Ameri-
ca was able to revive the Spartan spirit
OF Europe and to avenge stricken men
and women OF the Lusitania. Last but
more potent than all, America was able
as an ally of England, France, Belgium
and Italy to protect our own shores
from threatened invasion and spoliation
by Prussian savagery and brutality.
Now these political buccaneers and
buffoons are going through the country
preaching the sanctification of America
from The contamination of Europe.
The harlequins are trying to tell the
people that America cannot join Eng
land and France and Belgium, repre-
senting as they do all the standards of
civilization that are not our own, that
we must ignore these people and their
ideals and that we will have none of
them-we must repudiate our obliga-
tions to them.
That, in word, is the entire text of
the campaign. The professions OF our
Republican leaders are not consistent;
they are not honest. We will pass the
Reeds with the federation that is ex-
tended to the helpless and unfortunate.
The Republicans forgot all about en-
tangling alliances when they conducted
us to the Philippines, to Cuba, Porto
Rico, to Hawaii, Alaska. Now they
say we must protect American institu-
tions from the outside world. We must
protect the Monroe doctrine. We must
issue defiance to friend and foe alike.
We must misiudge and distrust our
friends. We must stand alone when
the foe assails.
And all this because (say nothing
about the party end OF the political der
wish dance) our moral support to a
peace pact is wanted. That is the whole
OF it-nothng more, nothing less.
There is no legally binding Issue in the
covenant. It's provisions are made OPP
tional with the members. There are
international agreements, but no inter-
national courts OF law and equity to
bind one to or against another, The
wisdom OF Clemencesu, OF Lloyd George
and President Wilson did not lose sight
of this fact. But we will, they said,
Join in question OF honor to keep and
preserve the peace-to protect civil lib
erty and the rights OF the people to en-
Joy life and to worship God in the die
tates OF their own consciences.
There is nothing whatever in the COW
enant to interfere with the operation of
the Monroe doctrine. There is nothing
to prevent America from declaring war
independently if she wants to; there is
nothing binding America to enter war
as one OF the allied nations il she does
not want to. There are no constitu-
tional questions involved and Congress
has no cause to be jealous of its power.
1t is merelya question of honor-that
in case OF war America or any other
member OF the League OF Nations will
defer action for period of three months
until the Assembly meets and joins the
issue.
The League Of Nations is covenant
whereby the civilized nations of the
earth may be bound in code of honor
to protect liberty and justice against
tyranny, anarchy, bolshevism, or any
of the evil influences menacing the
peace and happiness Of mankind.
1t is hardly necessary to discuss the
commercial side OF the question. 1t
would indeed be pathetic if America, in
declining to contribute her share to the
preservation OF international peace and
civilization ASA member OF the League,
should find the gates of commerce clos,
d to her merchant marine; our markets
deserted, industry crippled and general
decline stalking heedlessly all over this
country. 1t would be hard to adequately