The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1920-01-15

recently been confirmed by the un-
mistakablc evidences of public epin-
ion given during my visit to seven
teen of the states. | have endeavored
to make it plain that if the Senate
wishes to say what the undoubtco
meaning of the league is, shall have
no objection.
There can be no reasonable objec-
tion to interpretations accompanying
the act of ratification itself. But
when the treaty is acted upon, | 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 alter its
meaning 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. But no mere
assertions with regard to the w::h
and opinion OF the country are cred
:ted
III there is any doubt as to what
the people of the country think on
this vital matter the cIea and single
way out is to submit it for determine
ton at the next election to the vot-
ers of the nation-to give the next
election the form OF a great and sol
emn referendum, referendum as to
the part the United States is to play
in completing the settlements of the
war and in the prevention iir. the fll.
ture OF such outrages as Germany at
tempted to perpetrate. We have no
more moral right to refuse now to
take part in the execution and admin
istration 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 settlements should be. Our
fidelity to our associates in the war
is in question and the whole future
or mankind. 1t will be heartening to
the whole world to know the attitude
and purpose Of the .r people - OF the
people Of the United States.
Il spoke just now of the spiritual
leadership OF the United States.
thinking Of international affairs. But
there is another spiritual leadership
which is open to us and which we
can assume. The world has beer
made safe for democracy. but dcmoc-
racy has not been finally vindicatcd.
All sorts of crimes are being com.
mitted in its name. All sorts of pre-
posterous perversions OF its doctrines
and practices are being attempted
This, in my Judgment. is to be the
great privilege of the democracy of
the United States, to show that il can
lead the way i'll the solution of the
great social and industrial problems |
of our time. and lead the way to a |
happy settled order of life as we'll as
to political liberty. The program for
this achievement we must attempt to
and i'll carrying it out we
shall do more than can be done in
any other way to sweep out OF cSis-
tencc the tyrannous and arbitrary
forms of power which are now mas
Iuerading under the name OF popular
government
Whenever we look back to Andrew
Jackson we should draw fresh in
,piration from his character and c>
ample, His mind graspcd with such
| splendid definitencss and lirmncss
he principle of national authority and
action lie was SO indom;t-
iblc in his purpose to give reality to
he principles CT the government that
his is a very fortunate time to recall
lis career and to renew our VOWS OF
aithfulness to the principles and the
,ure practices OF democracy. re-
oicc to join you i'll this renewal Of
aith and DurDOSe hone that thc
whole evening may be of the happi-
st results as regards the fortunes OF
,ur party and the nations
Louis F. Page Dead.