Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-10-04
WILSON APPEAL is.
FQRLEAGUE, NOT F0R|
COX OR HIS PARITY
PRESIDENT OPENS CAMPAIGN
WITH STATEMENT TO PUBLIC
TERMS FOES AS GROSSLY iG-
; NORANT AND iMPUDENT"

Washington, Oct. An Statement
issued from the white house last nigh
President Wilson made personal ap
peal to the country on behalf OF th'
league OF nations. which he describes
as the most momentous issue thai
has ever been presented 10 the people
of the United States"
The statement follows:
My Fellow COuntrymen:
The issues of the present campaign
are of such tremendous ilnportahce
and of such far-reaching significance
for the influence of the country ana
the development OF its future rela-
tons. and | have necessarily had so
much to do with their development.
that | am sure you will think ii nat
ural and proper that should al
dress TO you few words concerning
them.
Every one who sincerely believes
in government by the people must re-
ioice at the turn affairs have taken in
regard to this campaign. This elet-
ton is to be genuine national refer
endum.
icy upon which the influence and au-
thoTity OF the United States in the
world must depend is not TO be let
10 groups OF politicians OF either party,
hut is to be referred TO the people
themselves for sovereign mandate
to their representatives They are o
instruct their own government What
they wish done.
The chief question that is put 70
you is, OF course, this: Do you want
your country's honor indicated ana
the treatey OF Versailles ratified?
DO you In particular approve OF the
league OF nations as organized and
empowered in that treaty?
And do you wish to see the United
states play it's responsible part of il?
You have been grOssly misled with
regard to the treaty and particularly
with regard TO the proposed character
OF the league of nation by those who
have assumed the serious responsible
ity OF opposing it,
They have gone so far that those
who have spent their lives. as | have
spent my life. in familiari2mg them
selves with the history and traditions
and policies of the nation, must stand
amazed at the gross ignorance and I'M
pudent audacity which has led them
to attempt to invent an 'Americanism
OF their own, which has no foundation
whatever in any of the authen ic trl
ditions o fthe government
"Americanism. as they conceive IT,
reverses the whole process of the last
few tragical yeals. II would snhsti-
,tute America for Prussia in the poicv
Of isolation and defiant segregation.
Their conception OF he dignity oil
the nation and its interest is that We
should stand apart and watch for OPP
portunities to advance our own inter |
iests, involve ourselves in no RESPONSE |
bility for the maintenance of the right |
i'll the world or for the continued vim
dfcation OF any Of the things for which
we entered the war to fight
The conception of the great crea.
tors OF the government was absolute.
ly opposite to this. They thought of
America as the light of .he world. as
created to lead the world in the asser-
ton OF the rights of people and the
rights OF free nations; as destined to
set responsible example to all the
world OF what free government is and
can do for the maintenance OF right
both national and interna.
tional. This light the opponents OF
the league would quench. They would
relegate the United States to sub.
ordinate role in the affairs of the
world
Why should we be afraid Of re.
sponsibllities which we are qualified
to sustain and which the whole of our
history has constituted promise 10
the world We would sustain?
This is the most momenious issue
that has ever been presented to the
people Of the United States, and | do
not doubt that the hope of the whole
world will be verified by an absolute
assertion by the voters of the country
OF the determination Of the United
States to live up to all the great ex-
pectations which they created hy en-
tering the war and enabling the other {
nations OF the world to bring il to 4
victorious conclusion. TO the contl.
sion OF Prussianism ami everything
that arises out Of Prussansm.
surely We shall not fai! o keep {
the promise sealed in the death and /
;acrlllce of our Incompatible soldiers.
sailors and marines who await Juy
'eroict beneath the sod OF France I
those who do not care to tell you |
ne truth about the league OF nations |
Tell YOU that article 10 of the. covenant
oi me league would make it possible
Tor other nations to lead NJ into war
whether we willed it by our own indie
pendent judgment or not This is all
'olutely false. T
There Is nothing in the covenant