Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-01-09
WILSON WILLING

ify the treaty by which the belligerent
nations sought to effect the settlements
for which they had fought throughout
the war. 1t is uncomfortable that al
this supreme crisis and final turning
point in the whole world. when the re-
suits of the great war are by no means
determined and are still questionable
and dependent upon events which no
man can foresee or count, the unlted
States should withdraw from the con-
venton of progressive and enlightened
nations by which Germany was defeated
and all similar governments III the world
be so unhappy as to contain any warn
ed Of the certain consequences OF any at
tempt 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.
STAGE Set for Old Plot.
Germany is subdued bue we are stlll
at war with her, and the old stage IS
reset for a recurrence of the old plot.
It is now ready for the resumption OF
the old offensive and defensive alliances
which made settled peace Impossible. 1t
is now open again to every sort or IN
trigue. The old spies are free to resume
their former abomnable activities: 1hey
are again at liberty to make It impos-
sible for governments to be sure What
mischief is being worked among their
own people, what Internal disorueFs are
being fomented.
"Without the covenant of the league
Of nations, there may be as many secret
treaties as ever, to destroy the confi-
dence of governments in each other ana
their validity cannot be questioned. None
Of the objects we professed to be fight
ing for has been secured or can be
/ made certain without this nations ratl-
fication Of the treaty and its entry into
the covenant.
This nation entered this great war
to vindicate it's own rights and to pro-
| tect and preserve free government. 1t
I 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
! to militarisnl, to furnish guarantees to
weak nations and to make just and
! lasting peace 1t entered it with noble
enthusiasms. Five of the leading belli-
/ eerents have entered into the treaty
H and formal ratification will soon be ex-
! changed.
Means New Attempt to Crush.
\ THE question is whether this country
viii enter and enter whole heartedly. II
j
\ Germany will play lone hand III the
world The maintenance of the peace
of the world and the effective execution
I of the treaty depends upon the whole
! hearted participation of the United
States. l am not stating it as matter
| Of power. The point is that the United
! States is the only nation which has suf-
ficient moral force with the rest of the
I world to guarantee the substitution OF
discussion for war. If we keep ont OF
this agreement. if we do not give oui
guarantees then another attempt vii
be made to crush the new rations Of
| Europe.
Il do not believe that this is wha1
the people Of this country wish or vii
be satisfied with Personally. I do mo-
United States as the decision of ths
nation.
No Objection to Real Meaning.
II have asserted from the first tha
the overwhelming ma ajority Of the peopl'
of this country desire the ratification o
the treaty, and my impression to tha
effect has recently been confirmed b,
the unmistakable evidences of publi
opinion given during my visit to seven
teen Of the states ! have endeavored t.
make it plain that if the senate wishe
to say what the undoubted meaning o
the league is. | shall have no objection
There can be no reasonable objection Il
interpretations accompanying the act o
ratification itself But when the treaty
acted upon, | must know whether
means that We have ratified or rejecte
it. We cannot rcWrite this treaty. W
must take it without changes whlc
alter its meaning or leave IT and then
after the rest of the world has signe
/ - F,,,r 81 i,,t-, oil, Ia In 4,
making another and separate kind o
treaty with Germany.
Way Out to Make 1t Issue.
But no mere assertions with r"gar
to the wish and opinion Of the countr
are credited. If there is any doubt as I
what the people Of the country think 9
his vital matter. the clear and sinsl
way out is TO submit it for determine
tion at the next election TO the voter
of the nation, to give the next electio
. the form of Il great and solemn refer
: endum, a referendum AS to the part IN
United States il to play in conpietin
the settlements of the war and in tn
prevention in the future of such out
RACES as Germany attempted TO per
petrate.
I'VE have no more moral right to re
, fuse now to take part in the executio
and administration Of these settlement
than we had to refuse to taRe part III III
. fighting of the last few weeks OF IN
! war which brought victory and made
, possible to dictate to Germany what til
. settlements should be. Our fidelity {
our associates in the war is IN question
and the whole future Of mankind. 1t WI
be- heartcning to the whole world
know the attitude and purpose Of tn
people Of the United States.
r Role to Vindieate Democracy.
Il spoke just now Of the spiritu'
leadership of the United States, thinkln
! ! Of international affairs. But there
! another spiritual leadership which
open to us and which We can assum
The world has been made safe for demo
? cracy. but the democracy has not bee
finally yindicatcd.
This, in my Judgment, is to be Il
great privilege of the democracy of tf
United States. to show that it can lea
the way in the solution Of the gre;
! social and Industrial problems Of o,
time.
whenever we look back to Andre
Jackson. We should draw fresh inspirs
. tions from his character and e1ampi
. He was so indomitable in his purpos
| to give reality to the principles Of Il
1 government. that this is Il very fortnnat
l time to read his career and to renew o,