Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-01-17

ly. If it does not do SO, the United
States and Germany will play a lone
hand In the world The maintenance
of the peace of the world and the Of
fective execution Of the treaty depend
upon the whole-hearted participation
OF the United States. am not stating
1t as a matter of power, The point is
that the United States Is the only ma
ton which has sufficient moral force
with the rest OF the world to guaran-
tee the substitution Of discussion for
war. If we keep out Of this agreement,
If we do-not give our guarantees, then
another attempt win be made to crush
the new nations Of Europe.
People Desire Ratification.
Il do not believe that this is what
the people Of this country wish or
will be satisfied with. Personally, I
do not accept the action Of the senate
of the United States as the decision
of the, nation. have asserted from
the first that the overwhelming ma
tority of the people of this country
desire the ratification of the treaty
and my impression to that effect has
recently been confirmed by the un-
mistakable evidences of public opinion
given during my visit to seventeen Of
the states. / have endeavored to make
1t plain that if the senate wishes to
say what the undoubted meaning of
the league is, shall have no objec-
ton. There can be no reasonable OBJ
lection of Interpretation accompanying
the act Of ratification itself, But
when the treaty is acted upon l must
know whether it means that we have
ratified or rejected it. We can not
without changes which alter its mean
ing, or leave it, and then, after the rest,
of the world has signed it, we must
face the unthinkable task of making
another and separate kind of treaty
with Germany.
Submit at Election.
"But no mere assertion with regard
to the wish and opinion of the country
is credited If there is any doubt as
to what the people of the country
think as to this vital matter, the clear
and single way out is to submit it for
determination at the next election to
the voters of the nation; to give the
next election the form of a great and
solemn referendum referendum as
to the part the United States is to
play in completing the settlement Of
the war and in the prevention in the
future Of such outrages as Germany
attempted to perpetrate. We have no
more moral right to refuse now to take
part in the execution and administra-
ton Of these settlements than we had
to refuse to take part in the fighting
of the last few weeks of the war which
brought victory and made it possible.
to dictate to Germany what the settle
ments should be. Our fidelity to our
associates 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,
Spiritual Leadership Of United States.
Il spoke just now of the spiritual
leadership of the United States, think
ing of international affairs. But there
is another spiritual 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 INDICATED. All sorts Of
crimes are being committed in its
name, all sorts of preposterous perver-
sions Of its doctrines and practices are
being attempted, This, in my 5udg-
ment, is to be the great privilege Of
the democracy of the United States, TO
show that it can lead the way in the
solution of the great social and indus
trial problems of our time and lead
the way to happy, settled order of
life as well as to political liberty The
program for this achievement we must
attempt to formulate, and in carrying
| it out we shall do more than can be
done in any other way to sweep out
of existence the tyrannous and arbi-
trary forms of power which are now
masquerading under the name of pop
ular government.
whenever we look back to Andrew
Jackson we should draw fresh inspira
ton from his character and example
His mind grasped with such a splen
did definiteness and firmness the prin
ciples of the government that this is
al action. He was so indomitable in
his purpose to give reality to the prin
caitples Of the government that this il
a very fortunate time to recall his ca
reer and to renew our vows of -aithful
ness to the principles and the pure
practices of democracy. / rejoice t.
join you in this renewal of faith ant
purpose. hope that the whole even
ing may be of the happiest results al
regards the fortunes of our party anC
the nation"
Must Face Issue Says Bryan.
William ]. BRYAN snli