East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-10-27

ways open 10 conNlctloh'
Japan also is a small nation in ex-
tent of territory and must draw heavily
upon the outside world for food and
raw materials so that she could not
make headway against us If excluded
from outside markets as she would be
in case of her becoming an aggressor
against us, IL we were in the league.
Governor Cox favors the league
Senator Harding opposes it.
Aside from the question OF expedi-
ency. it is the fact that militarism IS
wholly repugnant to our own institu-
tions. It's policy iss to multiply its man
power and to extend itss boundaries II
recognizes no law except its own ne
cessities. Its authority both at home
and abroad rests upon physical force.
The goal Of its ambition is dominant,
arbitrary power. In the persons and
property of its own subjects 1t sees
only pawns to be sacrificed in the
game of war. in those OF foreign
nations new subjects and booty to be
won by war.
|
Gratis. Like the slave master In any
form OF slavery. autocratic rulers are
never content with what they have,
but push their authority on and on
as far as the supply of blood and iron
under their control permits.
The prophecy OF lincoln to the ef-
feet that this nation could not exist
half free, half slave, applies with
(, great force now as to the question or
4 whether governments are to be DEM
oeratic or autocratic. These two an
tagonistc principles can not both ex-
ist in a world with modern means OF
transit and ntercommunication.
The Desire for Conquest.
II autocracy remains, it will retain
its desire for conquest, and having IA
cilities to strike anywhere in the world
, no nation can find security from at
tack except through sufficient physical
force to repel attack. And this means
world in arms again.
A world in arms can not be a worlc
of freedom, because all armies arr
raised and governed by autocrati
e methods.
o The League Of Nations is contrac
: that is democratic in principle and II
r calculated to protect the free ant
s therefore peaceful nations against this
r aggression Of military powers. Undei
Y Its laws there could never be sup
/ preston of free nations.
i Unless somehow we manage to place
war in process Of abatement the worlc
is doomed to expressions and burdens
that human nature can not endure
If TO the existing two hundred billiol
dollars Of new war debt there Is to b.
= added billions of future expense an
. nually for enlarged armies, with tn
prospect OF future and greater war
:, with doubled and trebled and quadrup
led war debts reputation. confiscatior
rebellion and the fall of civilization
;, lurk in the background.
Coming right down to earth In ou
Iown front yard, we find that some
nations have gone into the League.
World Friendship Needed
? Nothing is more natural than TO
= those associated in friendly relation
: ship to trade with one another
= Unless we go into the league we sha
= find ourselves standing alone.
= Just now Mexico, Germany and Rus
= Isia are outside the League but no
- with us. Neither will they stand ther
:, passively. They will either go In up
! on maturity of their term of probatio
= or they Will band themselves togethe
= to set up a rival power based upo
" military might. But in any event,
we stay out the war leaders OF tn
|, 4 1CenfraIsPowers will continue to hat
. us because we frustrated their drear
g of World Empire. and the allied an
= ASSOCIATED powers will regard us
! shirkers and cutters.
Z" In the meantime we are among tn
= largest exporters in the worl. W
? produce enormous quantities OF grail
70 and meat and minerals and factor
! products for export.
r These goods of ours can not here
: after find their way upon terms
r equality into any foreign market tina
# can be supplied by one member ma
V tfon of the league to another membe
. nation. The result will be that ou
. domestic products will pile up AM
n lglut the American market, close dowI
: factories. and fill the land with soul
o Kitchens and discomfort.
When the products Of our farm
, land mines and factoreis return to nor
. NAL prices. thus cutting down incomes
to pre-war levels. the present rate o.
, taxation is going to distressing
I burden. In our local affairs. reduc'
Itions can be made except for payment
of interest upon our local bonded debts
But as a nation we can not reduce ouI
present vast expenditures for the ar
my and navy unless the other great
| Ipowers also disarm.
Isolation Means Ruin.
II our isolation from the outside
world should bring prices down be-
low pre-war levels, as it surely would
then the taxation that is fixed upon US
BY bonded debt will pinch and blister.
But If we permit the world again to
convert itself into great military camps
4 with ourselves standing outside,
ifrtendless and alone, we shall have to
arm as we have never armed before
and this new expense added to what
we shall already have will constitute a
tax that will sink deeply into the VI
ltals Of our resources.
History verfies the probability OF the
correctness Of these predictions.
There are psychological moments