The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-01-14
The Paramount Issue Before the
People in the Approaching
Election
WOODROW WILSON URG-
ES PEACE TREATY ISSUE
Senate Cannot Rewrite Pact
Without Making New One
Necessary


Wilson in his message to the Jackson
day diners here today said: The
clear and single way to determine
the will Of the American people on
the league Of nations was to make it
an issue at the next election.
The presidents message said moth
ing whatever about a third term for
h.,aseif;;. neither did it say even by
, implication or intination that he
would be candidate, as had been
widely forecast. Most ali Of the presi-
dents message was devoted to an ex-
preston Of his argument Of why he
considered it the duty Of the United
St:Etes to join in the league, of nations
covenant and why he considered the
war not really won until it did. Ar
other attempt to crush the new ma
tons of Europe would be made, the
president said if the United States held
aloof
The president again expressed his
attitude towards reservations much as
he did at his conference with the SEN
ate foreign relations committee in
this language:
II the senate wishes TO say what
the undoubted meaning of the treaty
is 7 shall have no objection. There
can be no reasonable objection to in
yterpretations accompanying the act of
ratification itself. But when the treaty
is acted upon I must kS.ow whether 1t
means that we have ratified or reject
ed it. We can not rewrite this treaty.
We must take it without changes
which alter its meaning or leave it
and then, after the rest Of the world
has signed it, we must face the un-
thinkable task Of making another and
separate kind OF treaty with Ger
many.
The full text Of the presidents
message follows:
7-.sIt IS WITH Keensst regret that r
Gud that I arr to be deprived Of the
pleasure and privilege Of joining. you
and the other loyal Democrats who
are to assemble tonight 20 celebrate
jackson day and renew their VOWS Of
fidelity to the great principles of our
party, the principles which must now
fulfill the hopes not only of our own
people but Of the world.
The United States enjoyed the
spiritual leadership of the world un-
iii the senate of the United States
failed to ratify the treaty by which
the belligerent nations sought to ef-
feet the settlements for which they
had fought throughout the war. It is
uncomfortable that at this supreme
crisis and final turning points in the
International relations of the whole
world, when the results of the great
war are by no means determined and
are still questionable and dependent
upon events which no man can fore
see or count upon. the United States
should withdraw from the concert OF
progressive and enlightened nations
by which Germany was defeated and
ssl similar governments Gf the world
be so unhappy as 10 contain any)
warned of the certain consequences OF
any attempt of a like iniquity; and yet
that is the effect Of the course the
senate of the United States has taken
with regard to the treaty Of Versail-
less. Germany is beaten, but we are
still at war with her and the stage is
reset for repetition of the old plot.
It is now ready for the resumption
of the old offensive and defensive al
iiances which made settled peace i'm
possible It is now open again TO
every sort Of intiigues The old spies
are free to resume former abominable
activities. They are again at liberty
to make til possible for governments
to be sure what mischief is being
worked among their own people. wlla;
internal disorders are being fomented.
Without the covenant of the league Of
nations there may be as many secre;
treaties as ever to destroy the conf
t,ence Of gov osernments in each other.
and their validity can not be ques-
tened None of the objects We pro-
tesscd to be fighting for has been Sc
cured or can be made certain Of with
out this nations ratification Of the
treaty and its entry into the cove
nant. This nation entered the grea
war to vindicate its own rights and
to protect and preserve free govern
ment. II went into the war TO see i
through TO the end. and the end has
not vet come. 1t went into the war
to make an end Of militarisn, TO fur
nisl1 guarantees TO weak nations and
70 make a just and lasting peace. =
entered it with noble enthusiasms.
Five of the leading belligerents have
accepted the treaty and formal ratifi-
cations will soon be exchanged. The
question is whether this country ill
icY;tcr and enter wholcheartedly. If il
does not do so the United States ard
Germany will play a lone hand in the
world. The maintenance of the peac"
Of the world and the effective eNecu-
ton of the treaty depend upon the
wholehearted participation of tn"
United States. am not stating it a =
q matter of power. The point
that the United States is the only ia
ton which has sufficient moral fo-cf
with the rest Of the world TO guar