The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1920-10-07


cinles Of law administered without
passion Or prejudice. The other is aD
association of diplomats and poIiti
clans whose determinations are sure
to be influenced by considerations of
expediency and national selishness.
II do not mean to say, nor do
mean to permit any such construction,
that would decline to cooperate with
other nations in an honest endeavor
to prevent wars Nobody living
would take that position. The only
question Is one OF method or Of prac
ticability within the bounds prescrib-
ed by fundamental principles.
There are distinctly two types Of
international relationship. One Is an
offensive and defensive alliance Of
great powers, like that created at
Versailles, to impose their will upon
the helpless peoples Of the world
Frankly, l am opposed to such
scheme as that, and ! speak know
ingIy when l say that the associated
powers, with whom we fought the war,
were reluctant to accept such a propo.
sition :
81 am opposed to the very thought
Of our republic becoming q party to
SO great an outrage upon other peo-
pies, who have as good right to seek
their political freedom as we had in
ITO and have the same right to de.
veoping eminence under the inspira-
ton of nationality as we held for our
selves
The Other Type.
1.-THE other type is a society OF free
nations. or an association Of free ma.
tons, or a league Of free nations. ami
mated by considerations Of right and
Justice. instead of might and self
interest, and not merely proclaimed an
agency in pursuit Of peace, but so or
garized and so participated in as to
make the actual attainment Of peace a
reasonable possibility Such an assocf-
alton | favor with all my heart, and l
would make no fine distinction as
TO whom credit Ia due.
This is proposing no new thing.
This country is already member OF
such society-The Hague tribunal.
which, unlike the league Of Versailles.
is still functioning, and within d few
weeks will resume It's committee ses-
sons under the craftsmanship of an
American representative.
In that body we have the frame
work of really effective instrument
tality Of enduring peace The fact
that the tribunal did not prevent the
great war is, Of course, manifest, but
the cause of the failure is no less APP
parent. Germany, already secretly de-
termined upon ruthless invasion, was
able to prevent the adoption Of meas
ures which might have proved effec-
tual. The condition now is wholly diff
ferent. Not only Germany, but the
entire world has protited to the extent
of an awful object lession, the impress
sion Of which cannot be erased from
the human mind for generations to
come. The horrors Of war and the
eagerness for peace have become uni
versal. What once seemed at The
Hague TO be mere academic discus
sion has become a positive. outstand
ing need Of facing terrifying actuali
ties This makes vastly easier the task
of so strengthening The Hague tribu.
nal as to render its just DEGREES either
acceptable or enforceable. II Is not
uncommon for the advocates Of the
league of Versailles to contrast un-
favorably The Hague tribunal upon
the ground that the tribunal lacks |
teeth
tets Install the Teeth.
"Very we'll. then, let's put teeth in |
- 49, e.; -
sailles, there can be found machinery