Evening journal., 1919-04-05

We hope 20 make clear the distinc.
tion between "a league OF nations" and
the particular league of nations which
President Wilson has been endeavoring
since January Of 1918 20 organize and
offectuate as his own on r'ginal. personal
conception and as the individual con-
tribution Of his craftsmanship to the
future peace Of the world.
So persistently illuslve is the power
Of a phrase or term OF words. when
it has once acquired in the public I'M
aglnatiOn a special meaning, that only
recently, by the compelling evidence OF
actualities and by the nearly unani-
nous testimony OF those who know
what has been going on and what IS
now going on In the Peace Conference
in Paris, has there been a widespread
recognition here Of the vital differ
erence Of which we speak.
Americans almost without exception
desire that the peace Of the world shall
be assured as far as possible, by every
practical means. Americans almost
without exception are ready to join
by treaty in any concerted attempt TO
safeguard peace and preserve for the
world its inestimable blessings; that is
TO say providing always the result
promises TO be attained without the
sacrifice by this republic OF things
more precious 70 us than even peace
itself, the principles on which Amerl-
can independence was established by
force Of arms and the policies by the
steadfast maintenance OF which the
nation has come to be what it is TO-
day.
The effort TO promote belief in the
contrary is essentially disingenuOus.
The effort t0 represent Senators OF
newspapers or private citizens as en-
emies OF world peace or hostile TO any
league Of nations for peace because
they oppose a particular scheme Of
national entanglcment so labelled but
Objectionable 10 their ideas OF the na-I
tion's duty is about as dishonest as
anything recently visible under the
broad dome Of blue.
H.
Associations or partnerships for the
purpose OF diminishing the PROBABLE
itv Of war, or Of mitigating the hor-
r5rs OF war, are scattered all through
the pages Of history. 10 is unnecessary
TO 20 into the record. The most recent
example Of such an association or part
nership or league in which the United
states has been concerned Is the sys-
tenn OF engagements into which our
government entered when ifs diplomat
10 representatives signed and its Sen
ate ratind the first and the second ser
les OF conventions adopted at The
Hague. The Hague scheme OF twelve
years ago constituted what was in fact
a league OF nat Ons; and high were the
hopes entertained OF It by the earnest
friends OF peace throughout the civ
iHzed world. The United states, in
declaring its participation in those en-
deaFors and in those hopes, did IN
fact enter a league OF nations; but 1t
limited It's responsibilities and safe
guarded its sovereignty by the express
reservation attached TO the conven-
tlops by the vote OF two-thirds OF
more OF the Senator's ratfying the
treaties:
"Nothing contained in this conven-
ton shall be so construed as to re-
auire the United states Of America
10 depart from its traditional policy
OF not intruding upon, interfering
with or entangling itself in the po-
lltlcal questions Of policy or internal
administration OF any foreign State,
nor shall anything contained in thel