Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-01-21
Mr.. RRYAN,s POSITION.

William Jennings Bryan, in that
part of his address which had to DO
with the party's position on the
League of Nations, said:
"a democratic president was the
spokesman of the United States in
holding out to a warWOrn world the
hope of universal peace, and ne
brought back from Paris the covenant
of a League of Nations that provides
means for settling international dis
putes without a resort to force lie
did the best he could, and succeeded
better than we had any right to ex-
pect. when we remember that he
fought single-handed against the selfish
interests of the world.
t'The Republican party, in control of
the senate, instead of ratifying at once,
or promptly proposing changes that
it deemed necessary, has fiddled while
civilization has been threatened with
confederation. 1t could have adopted
it's reservations as well five months
ago as later, but it permitted endless
debates while suffering humanity
waited.
Compromise or Issue at Polls.
''T'he Democratic plan has been re-
iected and we must face the situation
as it is. We must either secure such COM
promises as may be possible, or pre-
sent the issue to the country. The lat
ter course would mean a delay of at
least If months, and then success only
in case of our securing a two-thlrds
majority in the senate.
eve cannot afford, either as citizens
or as members of the party, to share
with the Republican party responsible
ity for further delay; we cannot go
before the country on the issue that
such an appeal would present.
"Our nation has spent 100000 pre-
cious lives and more than S20,0OO,OO,-
600 TO make the world safe for demOc-
racy. and the one fundamental princi-
pie of democracy is the right Of the
majority to rule. 1t applies to the
senate and to the house as well as
to the people.
According TO the Constitution, a
treaty is ratified by two-thirds vote,
but the Democratic party cannot af-
ford to take advantage OF the Constf-
tutional right of a minority to prevent
a ratification. A majority of con-
gress can declare war. Shall we make
it more difficult to conclude a treaty
than to enter var?
Neither can we go before the coun-
try on the issue raised by article X.
If we do not intend to impair the
right of congress to decide the ques.
ton of peace or war when the time
for action arises, how can we insist
upon a moral obligation to go to
war which can have no force or value
except as it does impair the indie
pendence OF congress? We owe it to
the world to join in an honest effort
to put an end to war forever, and
that effort should be made at the earli-
est possible moment.
Should Raise Voice for Justice.
"What plan can Democratic
marty have other than one that con-
templates the popular election of those
delegates who, in the influence they
will exert, will be next in Importance
to the president himself?
"And what policy can the Democrat
ic party have within the League of
Nations other than one of absolute in
dependence and impartiality between
the league members and the league?
"Our nations voice should at all
times be raised in behalf of equal and
exact justice between nations as the
only basis of permanent peace; it
should be raised in defense of the
right of self-determination and il
proclaiming a spirit of brotherhood as
universal as the peace which we adj
vocate"