New-York tribune., 1920-06-29

shall have failed in making the liberty
of well-behaved, civilized peoples Sc
cure and we shall have shown that our
announcement about making the world
safe for democracy was an empty
boast
con November 4, 1918, the armistice
was agreed to and it was concluded
upon the basis of the fourteen points
set forth in the address Of President
Wilson, delivered to Congress on
January 8, 1918, and the principles
subsequently enunciated by him. At
no point, at no time, during no period
while this history was in the making,
was one responsible American voice
raised in protest.
Thus, before we entered the war,
we made the pledge; during the war
we restated the pledge, and when the
armistice was signed, all of the nations,
ourselves included, renewed the pledge;
and it was upon the faith of these
promises that Germany laid down her
arms. Practically all of the civilized
nations of the earth have now united
in a covenant which constitutes the re-
demption of that pledge. We alone
have thus far failed to keep our word
Others may break faith; the Senate of
the United States may break faith; the
Republican party may break faith; but
neither President Wilson nor the
Democratic party will break faith.
Worlds Monroe Doctrine
ain this hemisphere the mere decla-
ration of our young, republic that the
attempt of any foreign power to set
foot on American soil would be con-
sidered an unfriendly act has served
to preserve the territorial integrity
and the political independence of the
! nations of Central and South America.
The treaty pledges all of the sigma
tories to make this doctrine effective
everywhere. 1t is the Monroe Doc
. trinc of the world.
"The purpose of the league is to
give notice that if any nation raises
its menacing hand and seeks to cross
the line into any other country, the
forces of civilization will be aroused
to suppress the common enemy of
peace. Therein lies the security of
small nations and the safety of the
world.
every war between nations that has
ever been fought began in an attempt
to seize foreign territory or to invade
political independence. If in 1914 Ger
many had known that in the event of
hostilties Great Britain would have en-
tered the war, that France would GO
in, that Italy would go in. thas japan
would go in and that the United States
would go in there would have been no
war.
"The opponents of the treaty crv out
Shall we send our boys abroad tc
settle political quarrel in the Bal
kans? Immediately the unthinklng ap-
plaud and the orator records momen-
tary triumph Have we forgotten that
that is precisely what America airead!
has done? Have we forgotten that we
sent more than 10000 900 men tc
France, spent more than $40, 900, 900 ,oot
and sacrificed nearly 100000 lives t(
settle a Balkan dispute?
"There was a controversy between
Serbia and Austria. Territorial ques
t;ons. political rights and boundary
lines were involved. The Grown Prince
of the House of Austria was assassi
mated. A little fame of war licked ny
into the powder house of Europe, anc
in mement the Continent was II
flames. 1t took all the power OF civil
zation to put out the confagration. How
idle to INQUIRE whether we wish TO sent
our bows to settle political disputes II
the Balkans.
Fear of Future Wars
at is extraordinary that men shou!t
waste our time and vcx our patience
bv suecestnr the fear that we may b'
forced into future wars, while forget
ting entirely that America was forced
into this greatest of all wars. M
League of Nations existed when we en-
tered the war, and it was only whe1
we formed in haste, in the midst o
battle, league, of friendship unde
unified command, that we were able t.
win this war This association of ma
tions, held together by a common pur
pose, fought the war to victorlou
conclusion, dictated the terms of tn
armstice and formulated the terms o
, peace. If such result could b
achieved by an informal and temporar
agreement, why should not the asso
; citation be continued in more definit
and binding form? What plausibl
reason can be suggested for wastln
the one great asset which has come on
of the war? How else shall we pro
vide for international arbitration? HOY
else shall we provide for permanen
court of international justice? Ho'
else shall we provide for open diplo
macy? How else shall we provitl
safety from external aggression? Ho'
else shall we provide for progressiv
disarmament? How else shall we chec
the spread of Bolshevism? How els
shall industry be made safe and tn
basis of reconstruction established
How else shall society be steadied S
that the processes of healing may serv
their beneficent purpose? Until tn
critics of the league offer bette
method of preserving the peace of tn
, world they arc not entitled to one m(
mont's consideration in the forum {
the conscience of mankind
"Not only does the covenant guarar
tee justice for the future, but it hold
the one remedy for the evils of tt
. past. AS it stands to-day war is til
one way in which America can expire.
it's sympathy for the oppressed Of II
world. The League Of Nations remove
the conventional shackles of dipomac
:. Under the covenant it is our friend,
right to protest against tyranny ar
to act as counsel for the weak natior
now without an effective champion.
=, "The Republican platform contain
a vague promise to establish anoth,
t or different form of associate
among nations, Of tenuous al
= shadowy character. Our proposed c,