Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1920-10-21

pass for the very simple reason that
contrary to all Of the tendencies devel
oped by the civtlixing processes OF the
world, II rested upon the power oil
might, moi Of right
"The assertion 10 made frequently
that through the surrender of nur M
tionaiity we might have saved the life
OF the covenant-that Is TO say. that
although twenty eight nations could
not make Il function one added I the
twenty-eight would have achieved a
glowing success. provided. always, thai
the one we're America
"This pays to america the tribute
Of exceptional influence but I suggest
that II the world 10 dependen, upon our
action to bring about the supreme real
ization, then we ought to have he say
about our own freedom In participat.
ing therein. But lot NJ consider what
Is meant by this eliance npon Ameri'
ca. What can Il signify u not that
II IL TO the United States. and to the
United States ,lnne. that the ,ther
twenfy-eigh' nations look for the bone
and sinew,~ the money. he munitions
and the Ten to "ustair the entire or.
gantzatiou. no as an agency If peace.
but as an armed force7
A Telling Admission.
"A few days ago l delegation Of an
organization which -alls itself a So
ciety for the Prevention OF Var ap
pealed to the premier Of Grent Britain
to unite ard use the powers Of he
world in d, Tense Of Poland. Armenia
and the pardanelles. The British pre.
mler replied, according 10 his remarks
quoted by he newspapers, Ia thu ef.
feet that, while the formation ~ an
solution It "ould not be accomplish.
ed because the European nations could
not furnish the troops and the United
States had Withdrawn from 'o-opera.
tion'-a polite and diplomatic phrase
and exactly meaning. If course.
,hat The senafe Of The United States
had not completed the partial 5bliga.
ton assumed by the President 10 do
that very thing that Is, to Furnish the
troops Could a clearer INDICATION of
what would have been expected OF this
country as a memher # The league be
desired? Hardly. Some. too, think, Of
say they think, that this extraordinary
service should be rendered. do not
agree with them, but. assuming that
they are right. | venture to note that
nothing stands in the way Of perform
ance. The President has only TO call
upon Congress to declare war. md to
confer upon him specific authority to
raise armies for the protection Of the
powers which, though recently asso
ciated With, are still foreign TO our
own, republic.
ut Is reasonably safe to assume,
however, that tn, President will moi
pursue his course. Fortunately, he
Is under no compelling moral obliga
ton under the league to do 50 His
recent unhappy experience, moreover.
in asking Congress to send American
boys to police Armenia would hardly
encourage repetition OF a request al
ready c%OurteOusly hut quite firmly de
clined by the Congress. What then. In
like circumstances. would he the an.
swer Of the British premier HIMSELF
In his own words. addressing a meet.
ing of the Coalition Liberals on Au.
gust IL last, according to the press
reports, he said:
"'When the terrible question of
peace or war has to he decided. our
first duty as a government is TO the
people, who trust us not to commit
their treasure to any unjustifiable ad
venture. Nothing but the most impera
tive call of national honor national
safety and national freedom can jus
tify war. Before this country Is rom
mltted to It, even In the most limited
form, we must be satisfied that these
are In peril
81 quote these telline words, my
cOuntrymen, with the utmost satisfac.
ton, because with one amendment
they express TO a nicely my Own posi-.
ton. take for granted that the
prime minister meant to include IN
treasure the greatest treasure of all
but, for myself ! should leave moth.
Ing to be inferred. Foremost and above
all else to be sa%feguarded by those
Of us who hold the trust Of the PEG
pie, II goes without saying, but cannot
be too often repeated. is the manhood
Of the nation.
viii Not Misuse Power.
snow. II may appear to you that ]
have been speaking chiefly In the mega.
tive. make the admission. What Is
more. I might continue to do So almost
indefinitely without disadvantage 10
our cause. So many things have been
done by, the present expiring admins.
tration that no power on earth could
induce me to do. that l cannOt even
attempt to recount them. I may re-
mark casually, however, that II I should
be, as l fully expect to be, elected
President Of this just and honorable
republic, / will not empower an assist.
secretary OF the navy to draft q
constitution for helpless neighbors In
the West Indies and Jam II down their
threats at the point of bayOnets borne
by United States marines. We have
a higher service for our gallant ma
rines than that. Nor will I misuse the
power Of the executive to v with n
veil Of secrecy repeated acts Of I'M
warranted Interference IN domestic nj.
fairs Of the little republics Of the west.
ern hemisphere, such as 10 the past few
years have not only made enemies Of
those who should be our friends, but
rightfully discredited our country
as their trusted DeighbOr
VIII Submit to No Wrong.
"OD the other hand, | will not or
shall not, as you prefer, submit TO any
wrong against any American citizen,