Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-03

aftees reported to the Senate. woulo
make US guilty of the blacklist
crime"
On May 18th last the Knox substi-
tute for the Versailles treaty was
passed by the Republican Senate and
this convention can contrive no more
fitting characterization Of its obloquy
than that made in the Forum Maya
zine Of December 1913. by Henry
Cabot Lodge, when he said:
IF. we send our armies and young
men abroad to be killed and wounded
in northern France and Flanders
with no result but this, our entrance
into war with such an intention was
a crime which nothing can JUSTIFY.
The intent Of Congress and the In
tent of the President was that there
should be no peace until we could
create a situation where no such war
as this could occur. We cannot make
peace except in company with our
allies. It would brand us with ever
lasting dishonor and bring ruin to us
also five undertook to make a sep
arate peace.
This to that which Mr.. Lodge, in
saner moments, considered the
blacklist crime" he and his party in
madness sought to give the sanctity
Of law; that which IS months ago
was Of Everlasting dishonor" the
Republican candidates today accept
as the essence of faith.
We endorse the Presidents view of
our international obligations and This
firm stand against reservations de-
signed to cut to pieces the vital pro-
visions of the Versailles treaty and
we commend the Democrats in Con-
gress for voting against resolutions
for separate peace which would dis
grace the nation. We advocate the
immediate ratification of the treaty
without reservations which would
impair it's essential integrity; but do
not oppose the acceptance of any
reservations making clearer or moro
specific the obligations of the United
States to the League associates.
Only by doing this may we retrieve
lie reputation of this nation among
the powers of the earth and recover
the moral leadership which President
Wilson won and which Republican
politicians at Washington sacrificed.
Only by doing this may we hope to
aid effectively in the restoration of
order throughout the world and to
take the place which we should as
sumo in the front rank of spiritual,
commercial and industrial advance
ment.
We reject as utterly vain, if not
vicious. the Republican assumption
that ratification of the treaty and
membership in the League of Nations
would in any way impair the integ-
rity or independence of our country.
The fact that the covenant has been
entered into by % nations, all as jeal-
Gus of their independence as we are
of ours, is sufficient refutation of
such charge. The President repeat
edly has declared, and this conven-
ton reaftirms, that all our duties and
obligations as a member of the
League must be fulfilled in strict con-
formity with the constitution of the
United States, embodied in which is
the fundamental requirement of
declaratory action by the Congress
before this nation may become a par
ticipant in any war.
Conduct of the War
During the war President Wilson
exhibited the very broadcast concep-
ton of liberal Americanism. In his
conduct of the war. as in the general
administration of his high office there
was no semblance of partisan bias
He invited to Washington as his
councillors and coadjutors hundreds
of the most prominent and pro-
nounced Republicans in the country.
To those he committed responsible
ties Of the gravest import and most
confidential nature. Many of them
had charge Of vital activities of the
government.
And yet, with the war successfully
prosecuted and gloriously ended, the
Republican party in Congress, far
from applauding the mastery lead
ership of the President and felicitat-
ing the country on the amazing
achievements of the American gov
eminent. has meanly requited the
considerate course of the chief mag
istrate by savagely defaming the
commander-in-chiefo of the army and
navy and by assailing nearly every
public officer Of every branch of the
service intimately concerned in win
ming the war abroad and preserving
the security Of the government at
home.
We express to the soldiers and sail
ors of America the admiration of
their fellow countrymen. Guided by
the genius of such commanders as
General John J. Pershing, the armed
force of America constituted a de-
clslve factor in the victory and
brought new lustre to the flag.
We command patriotic men and
women who sustained the efforts IF
their government in the crucial hours
OF the war and contributed to the
brilliant administrative succe.s
achieved under the broad visioned
leadership of the President.
Financial Achievements
A review of the record of the DEM
ocratic party during the administr.-
ton OF Woodrow Wilson presents a
chapter of substantial achievement.
unsurpassed in the history Of tho D.
public. For 50 years before the ad-
vent OF this administration periodi.
cal commissions had impeded tn. IN.
oustrlal progress Of the American
people and caused inestimable lose
ana distress. By the enactment ~
the Federal Reserve At ~ -,