The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-30
A Manly AyOwal by One Of the
COvenantCrs.

A Manly AyOwal by One OF the
COvenantcrs.
THE New York HERALD is preserv-
ing and cherishing in its library 4
small volume published in 1910 in
black binding and entitled 1.-THE Cove
nanter." This book will always have
historical interest. II consists of a
series of letters written by WILLIAM
II. TAFT, GEORGE W. WIcKERsHANr.
A. LAWRENCE LOWELL and HENRY w.
TAFT in advocacy of the ratification
tions as submitted by President Will
son to the Senate.
The several letters or papers which
made this book were explanatory of
the specific provisions of the Cove
nant. particularly Of Article ". and
were designed 70 answer such obiec-
atty or of national policy as had been
urged by THE SUN AND New York
HERALD, among other DIRECTORS, ever
| since the text of the proposal became
known to the public.
In short. "The Covenanter" was APP
parently intended to bear somewhat
the same dlgnlfied relation to a new
complex of international and super
governmental structure as was held
towarf our own Union of States by
/ the celebra ted papers contributed to
"The Federalist' by its eminent and
patriotic authors. The "Covenanter
| letters, ii is needless to say. are
/ clearly reasoned and well written,
The controversial experiment was
highly respectable in every way.
Turning back to this almost forgot
ten little treatise on League of Ma
tions philosophy. we find the sub
/ Joined remarks on Article Y. in one Of
the chapters written by Mr.. HENRY
w. TAFT with his accustomed lucidity
Of expression
Article y Of the Covenau. is
criticised as involving an impair
/ ment OF sovereignty. The
obligation to join In such an alliance
! was thrown upon US because, By the
| Fourteen Points on which the armis-
rice was Expressly based. we mace
ourselves responsible not only for
! the erection OF the new States [cre-
ated ae . result OF the warl out also
/ for the- protection against attacks
from without. threatening their sta
tus as IT was TO be established by
the Treaty Of Peace. When We
became implicated in the European
situation We committed ourselves to
the proposition that the price paid by
our becoming party, to the guaranty
\ Of Article y. was not out Of proper
\ ton to the security we expected to
enjoy in the future. We cannot
with national honor. now escape "a re-
sponsibllity corresponding to our con-
tribution to the winning of the war
That is imposed upon us By the die
tctes OF International morality. and
10 nation can be said unduly TO sur
render rs sovereignty BY dlsshargins
such an obligation"
/ The people of the United States. as
everybody knows, have decided other
/ wise as to their future relations TO the
maintenance of European boundaries.
I We are not recalling Mr.. TAFr's ear
ier utteranccs on the subject in order
TO contrast them with the verdict Of
the people at the great and solemn
referendum, but merely to emphasize
( the candor OF his present position
with regard to Article y.
In Il letter which we wish we could
print in full Mr. HENRY w. TAFT
now tells us concerning "the heart Of
I the Covenant:
II imagine that after the last cleo
ton no responsible statesman IN this
country would have the temerity 10
consent to the retention Of Article
y. unless any obligation Il imposed
70 use the military force Of the
United States should be made eN-
pressly conditional upon the consti-
tutional consent OF Congress to be
given as each occasion arises.
was one Of those who. IN the
carly discussions Of tho Lcague IA
vored Article y J did 20 because I
believed that the European nations