The New York herald., 1920-01-09
DEMOCRATS CANNOT AFFORD
TO MAKE A CAMPAIGN ISSUE
OF LEAGUE, BRYAN DECLARES
tcontinued from Page One)

(Continued from Page OneD
the only ones disinterested enough TO be
trusted by all. and the Democratic party
is the party whose ideas best fit Tor the
task of leadership in such a work.
"A Democratic President was the
spokesman of the United States in holding
out to a war worn world the hope of uni
versaa peace. and he brought back from
Paris the covenant OF a League OF Nations
that provides means for settling interna-
tional disputes without resort to force.
He did the best he could, and succeeded
better than we had any right to expect,
when we remember that he fought single
handed against the selfish interests of
the world.
THE Republican party, in conrtlo OF the
Senate, instead of ratfying at once or
promptly proposing changes that 1t
deemed necessary, has fiddled while civili-
zation has been threatened with confla-
grafton. It could have adopted its reserva-
tions as we'll five months ago as later.
but 1t permitted endless debate while suf-
fering humanity waited.
t'The Democratic Senators stood with
the President for ratification without res
that it was better to secure within the
league, after it was established, any neces-
sary changes, than to attempt to secure
them by reservations in the ratifying res
olutions.
But our plan has been rejected
and we must face the situation as it
is. We must either secure such COM
promises as may be possible or pre-
sent the issue to the country. The
latter course would mean a delay of
at least fourteen months, and then
success only in case of our securing
two-thirds majority in the Senate"
we cannot afford, either as citizens or
as members Of the party, to share with
the Republican party responsibility for
further delay: we cannot go before the
country on the issue that such an appeal
would present. The Republicans have a
majority in the Senate and, therefore, can
by right dictate the Senates course. Being
right to decide the terms upon which the
Senate will consent to ratification.
Our nation has spent 100000 precious
lives and more than 1000 OOO, 900 to make
the world safe for democracy, and the one
fundamental principle of democracy is the
right of the majority to rule. 1t applies
to the Senate and to the House, as well
stitution a treaty is ratified by two
thirds vote. but the Democratic party can
not afford to take advantage of the con-
stitutionaI right of a minority to prevent
ratification. A majority Of Congress can
declare war. Shall we make it more diff
cult to conclude treaty than to enter
war?
.'Neither can we go before the country
on the issue raised by Article x. II we
do not intend to impair the right of Con-
yress to decide the question OF peace or
war when the time for action arises. now
can we insist upon a moral opngation TO
90 to war which can have no 1orce or
value except as it does impair the lnue-
pendence Of Congress!
We owe it to the world to join
IN nm honest effort to put an end to
war forever, and that effort should
be made at the earliest possible
moment"
"a Democratic party cannot be
nartv of negation, it must have a con-
struction programme. 1t must not only
favor a League Of Nations, but 1t must
have a plan for the election of dele
gates and a policy to be pursued py
these delegates What plan can Dem :
ocratic party have other than one that
contemplates the popular election oil
those delegates, who, in the influence
thew will exert, will be next in I'M
nortance to the President himself, and
what policy can the Democratic party
have within the League or Nations
other than one of absolute independence
and impartiality between the mempers
OF the league? Our nations Vo.Se
should at all times be raised in behalf
of equal and exact justice between
nations as the only basis OF permanent
neace. il should be raised in defence OF
Inc right of self determination and in
nroclaiming a spirit of brotherhood as
universal as the peace which we advo-
cate.
Npomextic Problems Pressing.
..o,o have domestic problems also which
offer an opportunity to render large ser
,,ico and one objection to thrusting the
80 ~ into the campaign is that 1t would
divert attention from questions demanding
immediate consideration. we are con-
fronted with the organization OF new par
ties on the theory that the old parties 90
not meet the issues that have arisen. our
nartv Is the one party that can quarry Ior
fhe meeting of these issues. 1t can oppose
c,ass narty because 1t is not itself the
artv of a class but the party OF the wnoie
people regardless of class.
"The Republican party has become
.ca ritaIistic party and has permitted tariff
ba rons TO write the tariff laws, trust mag
nates 70 direct the policy OF the party on
the trust question, railroad presidents 10
dictate its policy on the railroad question:
,,,,tio ,a cling house companies and other
nrofiteers have used ii as their own. IL
rouId divide tho country into class parties
and bv its own attitude compel the forrna-
tion of farmers party and a laoorers
party.
.orbe Democratic party. on the contrary.
stands for the protection of the rights of
averv class. dealing with each citizen as
an individual instead of as a member OF a
class. II has since II has been IN power
sivon the commercial classes a splendid
T,,rrency law, IL has given tho farmers a
earn, loan law, it has given labor an eight
hour day and greater security in its rights
and has given to all the people relief rom rom
tho high tariff burdens that had been
placed upon consumers.
.sDemocracy contempates cooperation