Evening journal., 1919-02-19

conceived, Pondexter said. and added:
In adopting or rejecting this con-
stitution and thereby becoming or not
becoming a member OF the league estab-
lished under it, the Government and
people Of the United States will deter
mine whether they are 10 remain the
great sovereign and independent nation
with the most complete self-govern-
ment every devised by man and the
highest functions OF citizenship ever
enjoyed; people controlling their own
destiny. determining for themselves,
through their constituted government
the extent OF their military prepara-
tions. the size OF their armies and
navies. maintaining peace and amity
with the world during the greater part
of their career and establishing for
themselves their international relations,
or whether they are 10 merge their
destinities with those Of other nations
Of the world such are their career. par
tic'pate In their quarrels and become a
party 10 all the international compli-
cations arising from diversity Of rac@
and language and from conflict Of In
ierests OF the various peoples Of Asia,
render 20 an international council and
body OF delegates those high functions
OF sovereignty which heretofore we
have exercised for ourselves and vest
IN the jurisdiction OF an international
league the determination Of our arma-
ments. the decision OF peace or OF war
or even the most vital questions affect
ing our national honor, intefrity OF
material welfare?
"In other words, once we have en-
ierred into this fatal covenant our
failure 10 obey the DEGREES OF the
league or Of tribunals constituted un-
der the terms Of It's constitution auto
.matically makes Us an outcast and
pariah among the nations Of the world
and plunges US into a state OF war with
all the other nations composing the
/ league. And this Is the frightful COM
psct WE are asked TO make 10 surrender
our deslinties 10 the league with the
awful penalty OF immediate war upon
us by ell the combined nations COM
posing It's membership should we de-
cline in any respect 20 obey the DEGREES
| OF the league. however, destructive they
may be Of our happiness or prosperity.
This Is the substitute we are asked
10 make for the peaceful and happy
state under which we have lived dur
ing the greater part Of our national Ca
| reer In peace and amity with the
world we now are asked TO avoid war
bv multiplying the causes OF war and by
I surrendering 70 a heterogeneous LEAGUE
OF diverse races, our sovereign rights
and prlvileges. BY such course the
lndependence which was preserved by
the patriotism Of our people and the
| heroism Of our soldiers in the nshtins
which has lust been concluded, will be
surrendered and the guarantees OF
peace which victory has afforded US, will
[ be mortgaged to every nation In the
world
Poindexter referred bitterly 10 the
fact that the South is in the saddle
and that "hav'ng failed In It's great ei-
fort for independence IN 1865. having
now obtained control Of the govern
ment OF the Union, is 20 have the sar-
donic triumph OF depriving the North
of IFS independence and setting up over
| Il a super-government. The North
conquered the South by force OF arms I:
the South now seem to be in a far
way OF conquering the North by q d.
plomatic surrender OF It's liberties"
He referred 10 the situation In Mex
zoo. 10 Russia and TO the general I'm
rest throughout the world and declared
that II the "league" whlch heat Ger
many would apply Its force to settling
these quest ons it would DO srea er
good than by forcing nations 70 sur
render their national rights &