The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-01-10
Mr.. WILSON'S MESSAGE
To Representative Democrats at the
Jackson Day Dinner

II II Will hSCIl6SI regret lIIdL i :
find that / am to be deprived of the
pleasure and privilege of joining you
and the other loyal democrats who are
to assemble tonight to celebrate Jack
sob day. and renew their vows of fl
deity to the great principles of our
party, the principles which must now
fulfill the homes not only of our own
people but of the world.
"The United States enjoyed the
spiritual leadership of the world until
the Senate of the United States failed
to ratify the treaty by which the bel
ligerent nations sought to effect the
settlements for which they had
fought throughout the war. 1t is in
conceivable that at this supreme
crisis, and final turning point in the
international relations of the whole
world, when the results of the great
war are by no means determined and
are still questionable and dependent
upon events which no man can fore
see or count upon, the United States
should withdraw from the concert of
progressive and enlightened nations
by which Germany was defeated and
all similar governments (if the world
be so unhappy as to contain any Civ
en- word of the certain consequences
of any attempt of a like iniquity; and
yet that is the effect of the course the
Senate has taken with regard to the
treaty of Versailles. Germany is
beaten, but we are still at war with
her, and the old stage is reset for
repetition of the old plot. 1t 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 of in
trigue. The old spies are free to re-
sumo their former abominable activ
tiles. They are again at liberty to
make it possible for governments to
be sure what mischief is being work
ed among their own people, what in
ternal disorders are being fomented.
Without the covenant of the league
Of nations, there may be as many sec
ret treaties as ever to destroy the
confidence of governments in each
other and their validity cannot be
questioned. None of the objects we
" DS lOI IIdS OCSh
secured, or can be made certain of
without this nations ratification of
the treaty, and it's entry into the cove
nant. This nation entered the great
war to vindicate it's own rights and
to protect and preserve free govern
ment 1t went into the war to see
it through to the end and the end has
not come 1t went into the war to
make an end of militarism, to furnish
guarantees to weak nations, and to
make just and lasting peace. 1t en-
tered it with noble enthusiasm. Five
of the leading belligerents have &C
cepted the treaty and formal ratifica-
tions will soon be exchanged. The
question is, whether this country will
enter and enter whole heartedly. 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 effective eXecu-
ton of the treaty depend upon the
whole-hearted participation of the
United States. | am not stating it as
matter of power. The point is that
the United States is the only nation
which has sufficient moral force with
the rest of the world to guarantee the
substitution of the discussion for war.
If we keep out of this agreement, if
we do not give our guarantees. than
another attempt will be made to crush
the new nations of Europe.
"I do not believe this is what the
people of this country wish or will be
satisfied with. Personally l 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 majority
of the people of this country desire
the ratification of the treaty, and my
impression to that effect has recently
been confirmed by the unmistakable
evidences of public opinion given dur
ing my visit to seventeen of the
states. / have endeavored to make it
plain that if the Senate wishes to say
what the undoubted meaning of the
league is, shall have no objection.
There can be no reasonable objection
to interpretations 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 cannot re-write this
treaty. We must take it without
changes which alters it's meaning or
leave it and then, after the rest of the
world has signed it, we must face the
unthinkable task of seeking another
and separate kind of treaty with Ger
many. But no mere assertions with
regard to the wish and opinion of the
country are credited. If there is any
doubt as to what the people Of the
country think of this vital matter. the
clear and single way out is to submit
it for determination at the next cleo
ton to the voters of the nation, to
give the next election the form of a
great and solemn referendum. refer
erdum as to the part the United
Stats is to plav in completing the