The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-02

general association or nations must be
| formed, under specific covenants for
| antees of political Independence and
territorial integrity to great and small
states alike" Hence, we not only con-
| gratulate the president on the vision
| manifested and the vigor exhibited In
the prosecution Of the war; but we
| felicitate him and his associates on the
| exceptional achievements at Paris in
| volyed in the adoption of Il league and
| treaty SO near akin to previously ex-
pressed American ideal and so intimate
| ly related to the aspiration OF civilized
| people everywhere,
We commend the president for his
courage and his high conception of
| good faith in steadfastly standing for
| the covenant agreed to by all the as
ISOLATED and allied nations at war with
Germany, and we condemn the Repub-
licaD senate for its refusal to ratify
the treaty merely because 1t was the
product OF Democratic craftsmanship,
thus interposng partisan envy and per-
and renewed prosperity Of the world.
Honor of U. S. Involved.
BY every accetped standard of inter
national morality the president is justi-
| fled in asserting that the honor OF the
country is involved in this business:
and we point to the accusing fact that
before 1t was determined to initiate
political antagonism to the treaty, the
now Republican chairman OF the sem
ate foreign relations committee himself
publicly proclaimed that any PROPOSE
tion for separate peace with Germany,
such as he and his party ASSOCIATES
thereafter reported to the senate,
would make US guilty of the blackest
crime"
for the Versailles treaty was passed
by the Republican senate, and this
convention can contrive no more fitting
Characterization of its obloquy than
that made in the Forum Magazine of
December, 1918, by Henry Cabot Lodge,
when he said:
"If we send our armies and young
men abroad to be killed and wounded in
Northern France and Flanders with no
result but this, our entrance into war
with such an intention was a crime
which nothing can justify"
The. intention of the congress and
the intent Of the president was. that
there could be no peace until we could
create a situation where no such war
as this could recur. We can not
make peace except in company with
our allies. Ii would brand us with
everlasting dlshonor and bring ruin TO
us also If we undertook to make a sep
afate peace.
Thus, to that which Mr., Lodge, in
saner moments, considered "the black
est crime ne anu ms paFlS III Hldu
ness sought to give the sanctity of
law; that which Is months ago was
Of Everlasting dishonor" the Repub-
lican paftYand its candidates today acL
c'sit as tlse essence OF faith
Indorse Presidents View.
We indorse the presidents view OF
Du" International obligations and his
firm stand against reservations designed
to cut to pieces the vital provisions
of the Versailles treaty and we com
mend the Democrats in congress for
voting against resolutions for separate
peace which would disgrace the nation.
We advocate the immediate ratifica-
tion of the treaty without resolutions
which would impair it's essential integ-
rity; but do not oppose the acceptance
Of any reservations making clearer or
more specific the obligations of the
u. s. to the league associates. Only
by doing this may we retrieve the repu-
tation of this nation among the powers
OF the earth and recover the moral
leadership which President Wilson won
and which Republican politicians at
Washington sacrificed. Only by doing
this may we hope to aid effectively in
the restoration Of order throughout the
world and to take the place which we
should assume in the front rank of
spiritual, commercial and Industrial ad-
vancement.t
we REJECT. as utterly VAIN, II not Wei
Gus, the Republican assumption that
ratification of the treaty and mem
bership in the league of nations would
in any way impair the integrity or in
dependence of our country. The fact
that the covenant has been entered into
by 20 nations all as Jealous of their
independence as we are of ours. Is
sufficient refutation of such charge.
The president repeatedly has declared
and this convention reaffirms, that all
our duties and obligations as a member
OF the league must be fulfilled in strict
conformity with the constitution of the
United States, embodied in which Is
the fundamental requirement Of declnra-
tory action by the congress before this
nation may becjme a Participant in any
war.
Partisan Bias Avoided.
CONDUCT OF THE wAR-During
the war President Wilson exhibited the
very broadest conception of liberal
Americanfsm. In his conduct of the
war. as In the general administration Of
his high office, there was no sembance
Of partisan bias. He invited to Wash
ington as his coun scl'ors and coadjutors
hundreds Of the most prominent and
pronounced Republicans in the country
To these he committed responsibilities
of the gravest import and most conf
dental nature. Many OF them had
charge of vital activities Of the gov
ernment.
And yet, with the war successful,
prosecuted and gIoriously ended, the
Republican party in congress, far from
applauding the mastery leadership of
the president and f,lic!tating the coun-
try on the amazing achievements OF
the American government. has meanly
requlted the consderate course Of the
chief magistrate by savagely dcf9m 9ming
the commander in chief OF the arms.
and navy and by asSaIling nearly every
public officer of every branch of the
service intimately concerned in winning
the war abroad and preserving the Sc
curity OF the government Mt home
We rxpresT 20 the eoldi"~s and sal
lors and marines the admiration OF their
fellow coI7trynltn. Guided by the
'CentuS nf SDCh commanders as Gen. J.
j. PershiHg. rhn armed force Of Amori-
oa constituted as decisive factor in the
flag.
We commend the patriotic men and
women who sustained the efforts of
their government in the crucial hours
Of the war and contributed to the bril-
liant lministrative success, achieved
under the broad vision and leadership
Of the president.
Achievements Lauded.
FINANCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS A
review OF the record of the Democratic
party during the administration Of
Woodrow Wilson presents chapter OF
substantial achievements unsurpassed
in the history of the republic. For
so years before the advent OF this ad-
minstration. periodical commissions had
impeded the industrial progress of the
American people and cause d Inestimahle
loss and distress BY the enactment
OF the federal reserve act. the old sys-
tenn which bred panics was replaced
by a new system which insured conf
dence, 1t was an Indispensable factor
In winning the war and today 1t is the
hope and inspirntion of burlness In.