The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1920-01-15
The Presidents Message.

Washington, January S.--Follow-
ing the text OF President Wilson's
message to the Jackson Day dinner
here tonight:
1t is with the keenest regret that
| find that am to be deprived of tho
pleasure and privilege OF joining you
and the other loyal Democrats who
are to assemble tonight to 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 TIN
til the Senate Of the United States
failed to ratify the treaty by which
the belligerent nations sought to eft
feet the settiementst=toE' which they.
had fought throughout the war. 1t is
uncomfortable that at this supreme
crisis and final turning point 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 lore
see or count upon, the United States
should withdraw from the concert OF
progressive and enlightened nations
by which Germany was defeated and
all similar governments Gf the world
he so unhappy as to contain any)
warned OF the certain consequences
of any attempt of 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
Versailles. Il
Germany is beaten, but we are
still at war with her, and the old
stage is reset for a repetition of the
old plot. 1t is now ready for the re-
sumption of the old offensive and de-
fensivc alliances which made settled
peace impossible. 1t is now open
again to every sort of intrigue. The
old spies are free to resume their for
mer abominable activities. They are
again at liberty to make it impossible |
for governments to be sure what mis-.
chief is being worked among their
own people, what internal disorders
are beng fomented. Without the
covenant of the League OF Nations
there may be as many secret treaties
as ever. to destroy the confidence of
governments in each other, and their
validity cannot be questioned. None
of the objects we professed to be
fighting for has been secured or can
be made certain of without this ma
tion's ratification of the treaty and
its entry into the covenant. This ma
tion entered the great war to vindi-
cate its own rights and to protect
and preserve, free government. 1t
went into the war to see it through
to the end, and the end has not yet
come. 1t went into the war to make
an end of>Vilitarism, to furnish guar
antees to Weak nations, and to make
a just andB lasting peace. 1t entered
it with noble enthusiasm. Five of the
leading belligerents have accepted
the treaty, and formal ratfications
will soon be exchanged. -.
''The question is whether this
will enter and enter whole
If it does not do SO, the
United States and Germany will play
a lone hand in the world. The main
te enance of the peace Of the world
and the effective execution of tic
treaty depend upon the whole-heart-
ed participation of the United States.
ar, not stating it rs matter of
power. The point is tina. the Unit
.d states is the only natioi which
has sufficient moral fore. with the
est of the world t. guarantee the
of discussion OF war. II
We keep out of this agreement, if we /
lO not give our guaran.e::. then an
:. her attempt will be made to crush ,
he new nations Of Europe. II
do not believe that th., is what !
he people of this country wish or
will be satisfied with. Ters,ually, I
10 not accept the acton of the Senate
# the United States as the decisi. II {
+ the nation. | have asserted from {
he first that the overwhelming mae
s,r;ty Of the people of this country {
a .AEs IL i