New-York tribune., 1920-10-14
Insists
Monroe eIdea
Is in Peril
issue Said To Be Whether
We Shall Abandon Ira.
ditiOns to Become Cog
in European System

= y AaA
PROVIDENCE, R. l., Oct. 13.-"The
question which the people will settle at
the coming election is whether they
are prepared to reject the great doc
trlnes of Monroe and the American
principles of Washington and become
a part Of the European system" said
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge at Re-
publican meeting here tonight.
he declared that it would be the
nrst and greatest task Of Mr.. Harding's
administration to bring about measures
and agreements which would promote
the peace of the world without endan-
gering the sovereignty of the United
States, and would meet with the ap-
proval of the conscience of the Ameri-
can people
Senator Lodge quoted from letters
and the Farewell Address of Washing
ton, and continued:
w ashlngton carried out his prin-
ciples in what was known as the neu-
trality policy when the great war broke
out between England and France. That
policy, in word, was to keep the
United States out of the affairs Of Eu-
rope and never to make any permanent
alliances with other nations.
Monroe Restated Policy
"The necessary corollary was de-
clared'by Monroe in 1923 in the famous
doctrine which bears his name. and
that was that Europe should be kept
out of the Western Hemisphere. But
what is often overlooked is that Mon
roe at the same time restated the
Washington policy that we should keep
out Of Europe. This country has never
departed from this policy from the
days of Washington and Monroe to the
present time.
Gwen Mr.. Wilson recognized the
force of these doctrines, for when we
entered the war he made no treaties
of alliance, and he always officially re-
ferred to the powers which were also
fighting Germany as the powers asso-
ciated with US in the war against Ger
many But when he made his league
he abandoned the policies of Washing
so long lived and prospered as ma
ton. He asked the Senate to go with
him in that abandonment, and the SEN
ate refused to do so.
every thinking man and woman in
this country is anxious to promote the
worlds peace, and it will be the first
and greatest task Of Senator Harding S
administration to bring about meas
ures and agreements which will really
promote the peace of the world with
out endangering the safety, independ-
ence and sovereignty of the United
States, and which will meet with the
universal approval of the conscience of
the American people 1t is the shall
lowest of devices to attempt to create
opposition to the Republican party be-
cause it is opposed to this league. tn s
ill-omened alliance brought back by
Mr.. Wilson from Paris.
Peace Sentiment Widespread
"The noble idea and the heartfelt
longing to avoid war and maintain
1eace are not shut up within the limits
of Mr.. Wilson's covenant for league
of nations. They are deep down in the
hearts of the American people. But
we are not going on wild expedition
TO secure peace by endangerng and
destroying the United States, which in
itself and in its success as nation
contains the best hopes for the peace
of the world.
"Such are the feelings and the beliefs
of Senator Harding He is against the
Wilson league. He is opposed to Mr.
Cox, the slave of the fatal un- American
Wilson covenant He would have the
United States lead in an international
agreement to promote peace. This is
what America wants and must have
But the only thing before us for dis
cussion in this campaign is Mr.. Will
sons covenant of the league, which
Mr.. Cox proposes to go into if he Is
elected.
at is not league to promote peace
It is an alliance 1t rests on force. It
ccntemplates armies. 1t provides fol
war to be carried on by members of the
league, who are allies. Who are to rep
resent the countries in the league wher
they meet in the council and the as.
sembly? Dispassionate jurists who vii
gather to settle disputes With an eye
single to right and justice? Not at all
/ The men who sit around the table OF
the league will be diplomats and politi
clans, thinking first Of the interests OF
/ tkeir several countries and eager tC
use the alliance which is made by the
( league to secure the prizes in land anc
wealth which they seek.
"Look at the document itself. There
is hardly line in it, unless it i:
merely formal, which is not open tt
differing interpretations. 1t is filled
with doubts and uncertainties of in
depreciation, and yet we are asked tt
/ join it for an indefinite future, sacri
flee our own sovereignty and become
an active participant in the quarrel:
of Europe"