The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-09-04

Bicknell, of Webster, S. D., who has
just returned from France, related to
me this morning. He tells me that
on a trip the first of this month
through the sector in which the Can
adam and English troops operated in
the battle of the Somme in 1916 he
learned that the men engaged in clean
ing up the ground still find hidden in
| the woods and marshes the bodies of
ago. The country, he says, presents
a spectacle which cannot be described.
Not a single building stands in the
City of Lens, once a prosperous min
ing center of 10000 people. Even the
old graves of the dead were burst
open by shells and bombs. The vii
lage of Vimy does not exist. In Arras
not a house is untouched. The ca
thedral is a wreck and ruin. The city
of Albert is only a pile of rubbish.
Going from Paris toward Arras the
factories which once gave employment
to the workers are all ruined. Condi-
tons are thus briefly described by 4
reliable eyewitness.
Germany thus violated with iendish
ruthlessness all the rules of war which
she was pledged to respect, Ought not
civilization to league the nations
against the preparation of such atroc-
ties. The discussion of this proposed
league of nations has been going on
in this body and by the press and
pulpit for months. Many misrepre-
sensations have been made. The
country has been bewildered and con-
fused, and no wonder, because it has
been attacked by its enemies every
where. This body has been a sort Of
resolution school," with resolutions
introduced by the opponents Of this
measure, with the hope in their hearts,
no doubt, that some Of them might
stumble on to a resting place and fn'
some logical reason to present tx
people why it should not be <sNS%,ad.
But I do not think any. o. IS been
really deceived, eye ,NSNN. be those
W whose es sd prejudice 49, them willing
| recognize that there are those
among us who con~scientiously hold to
the view that the policy of our gov
eminent should still be that of non
interference with foreign affairs. Those
who hold this view are not necessarily
critics Of this particular document,
but are opposed to a league of any
lind Tho nnininnc Of oil c11ch cnr-
s~cientiously held, are entitled to the
highest respect~and consideration.
Let me recall what must be evident
to every observing member of this
body, that long before we had been
asked to do any particular thing the
fight against this covenant com
menced. 1t began before it was
framed - before the delegates had
taken their seats around the table at
Versailles, and it has increased with
increasing fury since it began. But |
believe it has been generally recog
nized by the people at all times that
in it's early stages it was more a fight
against President Wilson than against
the league of nations itself.
/ desire especially to direct my re-
marks from the viewpoint of our moral
and national duty, and would not
forget our obligation to provide ma
terial safeguards for our nation. My
bible tells me that as we SOW so shall
we reap. | am just old fashioned
enough to believe it. l believe that
principle applies also to nations as
well as individuals. And do not be-
lieve that any government not based
on morality and justice can long en-
dure. Our nation has been sowing
for many years past. Now we are
beginning to reap what we have sown.
I Let us not think we can escape our
responsibilities. Some day, some time,
and in some way we have got to pay
the price, and | sometimes think the
day of settlement is nearer than we
think.
We are told by some members of
Congress, and the opponents of this
document, that now the war is closed
European troubles are no concern of
OuTS, JHdl we SHOulu StdUu OUT anu
not become mixed up in their affairs;
that we are the greatest nation on
earth, amply able to take care Of our
selves; that we do not need them,
but that they need us. Aside from
the fact that we are the greatest ma
ton on earth, I am not able to SUBJ
scribe to any such doctrine. We are
great, of course we are, and that we
are strong no one denies. Even Ger
many admits that; but it is true that
no nation or man has ever been or
ever will be strong enough to stand
alone. That is the reasoning Of a sell
fish mar or nation, and its acceptance
would bring upon us the juet condem-
nation of all liberty-loving people. 1t
is exactly the same line of argument
that has been used among the nations
in ages past. 1t destroys the morals
of a people and encourages wars such
as we just passed through. 1t is the
basis of that reprehensible sentiment
now prevalent in Germany and which
makes her an unrepentant nation to-