Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-10-08
Wilson Speaks Out Direct To The
People.

President Wilson made public last Sun
day night direct appeal to the American
people on behalf of the league of nations,
defending the covenant attacking those
who oppose it and characterizing the
"Americanism" issue as Prussanism based
on gross Ignorance" and "impudent au-
dacity." The statement, understood to be
the first of series, is as follows:
my w-countrymen The issues of
the present campaign are of such tremen-
dous importance and of such far-reaching
significance for the influence of the coun-
try and the development of its future rela-
tions, and have necessarily had so much
to do with their development. that am
sure you will think it natural and proper
that should address to you a few words
concerning them. Everyone who sincerely
believes in government by the people must
rejoice at the turn affairs have taken in
regard to this campaign. This election is
to be genuine national referendum. The
determination of great policy upon which
the influence and authority of the United
States ia the world must depend is not to
be left to groups If politicians of either
party, but is to be referred to the people
themselves for a sovereign mandate to
their representatives. They are to instruct
their own government what they wish
done.
THE chief question that is put to you
is, of course. this: Do you want your
cOuntry's honor indicated and the treaty
of Versailles ratified? Do you in particular
approve of the league of nations as organ
lied and empowered in that treaty. And
do you wish to see the United States play
its responsible part in it -? You have been
grossly msed with regard to the treaty
and particularly with regard to the pro-
posed character of the league of nations,
by those who have assumed the serious
responsibility of opposing it. they have
gone so far that those who have spent
their lives, as | have spent my life, in
familiarizing themselves with the history
and traditions and policies OF the nation,
must stand amazed at the gross ignorance
and impudent audacity which has led
them to attempt to invent an American
ism of their own, which has no foundation
whatever in any of the authentic tradi-
tons of the government.
"Americanism as they conceive it re-
verses the whole process of the last few
tragical years. II would substitute Amer
lea for Prussia in the policy of isolation
and defiant segregation. Their cOncep
ton of the dignity of the nation and its
watch for opportunities to advance our
own interests. involve ourselves in no re-
sponsiblity for the maintenance of the
right in the world or for the continued vim
dcation of any of the things for which we
entered the war to fight. The conception
of the great creators of the government
was absolutely opposite to this. They
thought of America as the light Of the
world, as created to lead the world in the
assertion of the rights of peoples and the
| rights of free nations; as destined to set
a responsible example to all the world Of
what free government is and can do for
maintenance of right standards. both ma
tional and international This light the
opponents of the league would quench.
They would relegate the United States to
subordinate role in the affairs Of the
world.
why should we be afraid Of responsible.
ties which we are qualified to sustain, and
which the whole of our history has con-
stituted promise to the world we would
sustain? This is the most momentous issue
that has ever been presented to the people
of the United States, and do not doubt
that the hope Of the whole world will be
verified by an absolute assertion by the
voters of the country of the determination
of the United States to live up to all the
great expectations which they created by
entering the war and enabling the other
ereat nations Of the world to bring it to a
victorious conclusion, TO the confusion Of
Prussianism and everything that arises
out of Prussanism. Surely we shall not
fail to keep the promise sealed in the
death and sacrifice Of our Incompatible
soldiers, sailors and marines who await
our verdict beneath the sod Of France.
Those who do not care TO tell you the
truth about the league of nations tell you
that Article X Of the covenant of the
LEAGUE would make it possible for Other
nations TO lead us into war. whether we
willed il by our own independent judg-
ment or not. This is absolutely false
There is nothing in the covenant which II
the least interferes with or impairs tn
right Of Congress to declare war or no
declare war according to its own independ
ent Judgment as our Constitution provides
Those who drew the covenant OF the League
were careful that il should contain moth
, ind which interfered with or impaired tn
constitutional arrangements Of any Of tn
Great nations which are to constitute IL
members. They would have been amaze
and indignant at the things that are no'
being ienorantly said about this great an
sincere document.
THE whole world will wait for you
verdict in November as it would wait 70
= an intimation Of what the future is to be.
WOODROW WILSON"