The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-03-12

article. The great powers, Great Brit
ain. France, Italy and Japan. long age
signed and gave their pledge to re
spect and preserve as against external
aggression the territorial integrity
and existing political independence OF
all members of the league Nor have
smaller nations hesitated to discharge
their duty to mankind and accept
their share Of the responsibility fol
maintaining the peace of the world
Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway
and Spain have aligned themselves
with South American nations like Al
gentina, Chill and Paraguay, which
adhere "unreservedly' to the cove
nant. 1t is only in the United States
senate that the attempt has been
made to erect policy of national
cowardice into a policy of national
government and attach to it the name
of "Americanism"
On the question of principle the
presidents position is unassailabIe
On the question of expediency, which
is something that every statesman IS
obliged to consider, his position is
weak and untenable He is not facing
the situation when he says:
/ Either we should enter the league
of nations fearlessly, accepting the re-
IspOnsibility and not fearing the role
of leadership which we now enjoy,
contributing our efforts toward estab-
fishing a just and permanent peace,
or we should retire as gracefully as
possible from the great concert of
powers by which the world was saved
If the Lodge reservations or any
other set of reservations defined
permanent and Interchangeable policy
on the part of the United States, the
president might be right; but these
reservations at their worst are mere
ly an expression of opinion on the
part of temporary majority of the
senate. They cannot forever fettel
the United States or prevent the
American people from discharging all
their moral obligations to mankind
What reactionary senate under the
leadership of Henry Cabot Lodge does
a progressive senate under enlighten
ed leadership can undo.
In the meantime the United States
will be in the league of nations. will |
all that that implies to the peace and
stability of the world The president
himself will have nearly a year in |
which to employ his powers and his |
talents in setting the league on its
feet and making it workable agency |
of international peace. To delay is c |
risk the loss of opportunities that may
bridge the chasm between failure and
success; for unless the league is es
tablished in time to check the disin
tegration of government and civiliza
ton it will have found itself too late
President Wilson does not say that
he will reject the treaty if it is adopt
ed with reservations that limit ant
restrict the obligations of the United
States under Article X. and make this
country privileged member of tn,
league; but whatever his present de
termination may be, the senate is
charged under the constitution with
solemn duty that cannot be shirked
That duty is to agree on a resolution
of ratification for which the necessary
twO-thirds of the senators can vote.
The responsibility is then transferred
to the president, and he must decide
whether he will accept what he can
get or carry the case to the polls fol
an indecisive verdict, as any verdict
in the circumstances must be. That
responsibility is not yet his, and it vii.
not be until the senate performs its
constitutional functions.
1t has had the treaty uder Official
consideration for eight months. 1t 81
still keeping the United States in q |
state of war and it is still preventing
the consummation of world peace /
Whatever the president may do, what
ever the president may not do, his flu
ture course can only be a matter OF
conjecture until the United State |
senate has done its own work under
the constitution by adopting a resolu
ton of ratification. World.