, 1920-09-02

anu tlllltS III ltSLlh " lbItlEH al
fairs being REINFORCED by the members
of the House of Representatives.. and
also by nominees of the President and
Supreme Court-could draw up Sug-
gestionS for the reconstruction Of the
League which would he conSonant with
the feelings not of one, hut of all
parties in America
"Frankly, | value that suggestion
very highly, because It is proffcred oh
viously in IA helpful and friendly spirit
md reveals an important old world
opinion on the necessity of amend
ment, revision or reconstruction. 1t
~comprehends substantially what |
would propose to do if elected PresI-
dent. | do not mean precisely that. 1t
would be clearly mwiSe to undertake
specific suggestions or to attempt to
pass upon suggestions now. What il
in my mind is the wisdom of calling
into real conference the ablest and
most experienced minds of this coun-
try, from whatever walks of life they
may be derived and without regard to
party affiliation, to formulate a def
mite practical plan along the lines al
ready Indicated for the consideration
of the controlling foreign powers.
"The objection, strongly uttered in
some quarters, that this course would
involve the reconvening of the entire
convention may he regarded as. IL very
slight one The acceptance of our pro-
posalS by the few principal nations
would undoubtedly be followed
promptly by the acceptance on the part
of the minor members of the alliance.
"There would be no material delay.
One can not disregard the leadership
or have my doubt about the influenced
Of the principal allied and associated
powers. Insofar as ] could do so
without disregarding the proprieties,
l should give very earnest and prac-
tically undivided attention 10 this very
vital subject from the day of my cleo
ton and | should ask others to do like
wise as a matter of public and pa
triotic duty. Indeed. | should hope to-
have behind me, after the decision on
the national referendum we are soon
to have, IL country wholly united in
earnest endeaVOr to achieve IL true
solution of this problem upon which
the future civilization so largely de-.
ponds.
Il have already announced that
/ shall urge prompt passage of the.
resolution, vetoed by the President, de-
claring ut an end the preposterous
condition of technical war when we
were actually mt peace. Simultaneous
ly, l shall naturally advise the re-
sumption by congress of its exceptional
powers. which have been vested by
war legislation in the executive. [
have no expectation whatever of find
ing it necessary or advisable to nego-
tate n separate peace with Germany.
In view of the simple fact that the
allied powers with whom we were AS
sociated in the "A have already
formally concluded their peace. the
passage of the peace resolution by Con-
sress would merely give formal recog-
milton to an obvious fact.
Let us take stock for Il moment of
America in the world, aye, and of
America at home. The end Of the war
found our unselfishnesS emphasized to
all mankind, and the garlandS of world
leadership were bestowed from every
direction. We had only to follow the
path of America, rejoicing in the in
heritance which led to our eminence,
to rivet the. gaZe of all peoples upon
our standards of national righteous
ness, and our conception of information
al justice. Moreover, the world was
ready TO give MS its confidence. 1t was
the reckoning opportunity of he CEN
,rs,. .-t 60. tl, 81 mi ff , tf1, ~ tlA
new world republic, but for America
10 hold every outpost of advancing
civilization and invite all nations 10
join the further advance to heights
dreamed of. but never approached be
fore. But force of example was flung
aside for force of armed alliance. We
neglected our establishments and re-
S%tOrationS ut home, and The cruel sac
rifice Of millions of lives and billions
of treasure left us and the world CROP
ing in uncertainty and anxiety instead
of revealing lis in the sunlight of II
new day, with lines formed, ready for
the onward march Of peace and all its
triumphS.
Mindful of our splendid example and
renewing every Obligation of ~aSsOcla-
non in war, | want America 10 be the
rock of security mt home, resolute in
righteousness and unalrerable in Sc
curity and supremacy of the law. Let
us be one with wlggling and wohbling.
Steady, America. Let us assure good
! fortune to all. We may maintain our
eminence as II great people at home
and resume our high place in the es-
innate of the world. Our moral lead
ership was lost when ambition sought
to superimpose Il reactiOnary theory of
diScredited autOcracy upon the prog
ressive principle of living, glowing
democracy. My chief aspiration, my
couhtrymen, If clothed with power, will
be to regain that lost leadership, not