The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-01-09

= went into the war to see It through
to the end, and the enu has not vet
come. 1t went into the war to make
an end of militariSm, TO furnish guar
anteeS to weak nations, and to make
just and lasting peace. 1t entered
it with noble enthusiasm.
Five of the leading belIigerents have
accepted the treaty, and formal ratifi-
cations will soon be exchanged. The
question is whether this country will
enter and enter whOleheartedly. If it
does not do so, the United States and
Germany will play Il lone hand in the
world. The maintenance of the peace
of the world and the effective eXecu-
tion of the treaty depend upon the
Whoiehearted participation of the
United States.
/ am not stating it as a matter of
power. The point is that the Cnited
States is the only nation which has
sufficient moral force with tn" rest Of
the world TO guarantee the SuGStitu-
tiOn of discuss on for war. If we keep
out of this agreement, if we do not
give our guarantees. then another at
temp will he made IL crush the new
nations of Europe.
| do not believe that lhi> is what
the people of this country wish or
will he satisfied with. Personally, |
do nOt accept the action of the senate
of the United States us the decision
of the nation. | have asserted from
the first that The overwhelming ma
jority of the people of this country
desire the ratification of the treaty,
and my impression 10 that effect has
recently been confirmed by the unmis-
taxable evidences of public opinion
given during my visit 20 seventeen of
the states
We cannot rewrite this treaty. We
must take it without changes which
alter its meaning. or leave it and then
after the resi- of the world has signed
it, we mus face the unthinkabe task
OF making another and separate kind
of treaty with Germany.
But no mere assertions with regard
to the wish and np.hinu OF the cOun-
Try are credited. If there is any doubt
as TO what the people of the country
think of this vital matter, the clear
and single way out is 20 submit it for
s determination at the next election TO
the voters of he nation, to give The
next election the form of Il great and
solemn referendum, a referendum as
to the part the United States is to play
in completing the settlements of the
war and in the prevention in the fu-
ture OF such OutrageS aS Germany at
Attempted to perpetrate
We have no more moral right to re.
fuse now 20 take part iii the eXecu-
ton and administration of these set.
Elements than we had to refuse to take
part in the fighting of the last few
weeks Of the war which brought vic
tory and made it possible to dedicate
TO Germany what the settlements
should be. Our fidelity to our aSSOci.
ateS in the war is in question, and
the whole future of mankind. 1t will
be heartening to the whole world to
know the attitude and purpose of the
people of the United States.
/ spoke just now of the spiritual
leadership of the United States, think
ing of international affairs. But there
is another spirituHl leadership which
is open to us and which we can as
sumo. The world has been made safe
for democracy, but democracy has not
been finally vindicated. All sorts of
crimes are being cOmmitteu in its
name, all sorts of prepoSterOuS per
versions of its doctrines and practices
are being attempted. This, in my
judgment, is to the great privilege OF
the democracy of the United States, tC
show that it can lead the way in the
solution of the great social and indus
trial problems of our time, and leaC
the way to a happy settled order OF
life as we'll as 20 political liberty