The Washington herald., 1920-07-03
League Plank Considered
Triumph for President
Whose Opposition to Mild
Reservations Was Not
Fought to Bitter End.


submitted to the Democratic nation
al convention today:
The Democratic party, In it's ma
tioQal convention now asse mbled.
sends greetings to the President Of
the United States. Woodrow Wilson,
and halls with patriotic pride the
great achievements for country and
the world wrought by a Democratic
administrator under his leader
ship.
1t saIutcs the mighty people of
this great republic. emerging with
imperishabfe honor from ths severe
tests and grievous strains Of the
most tragic war in history. having
earned the piaudits and the graft
tude Of all free nations.
Ii declares It's adherence to the
fundamental progressive principles
of social, economic and Industrial
justice and advance. purposes to re-
sumo the great work of translating
these principles into effective laws.
begun and carried far by the Demo-
cratic administrator and, inter-
rupted only when the war claimea
all the national energies for the sin
gle task Of victory.
League Of Nations.
The Democratic party favors the
league Of nations as the surest, IL
not the only practicable means Of
maintaining the permanent peace OF
the world, and terminating the in
sufferable burden Of great military
and naval establishments. 1t was for
this that America broke away from
traditional isolation and spent her
blood and treasure to crush a colos-
sal scheme of conquest. It was upon
this basis that the President of the
United States. in prearrangement
with our allies, consented to sus-
pc nsion OF hostilities against the i'm
perial German government; the
armistice was granted and a treaty
of peace negotiated upon the definite
assurance to Germany, as well IS
to the powers pitted against Ger
many, that "a general association OF
nations must be formed, under spe.
cific covenants for the purpose of af-
fording mutual guarantees OF po-
litical independence and territorial
integrity to great. and small States
alike" Hence we not only congrat-
ulate the President on the vision
manifested and the vigor exhibited
in the prosecution OF the war, but
we felicitate him and his associates
on tne exceptional dCnleNemcnts ~
Paris involved in the adoption OF a
league and treaty so near akin to
previously expressed American
ideals and so intimately related to
the aspirations OF civilized peoples
everywhere.
We commend the President for his
courage and his high conception Of
good faith In steadfastly standing
for the covenant agreed to by all
the associated and allied nations at
war with Germany. and we con-
denim the Republican Senate for it's
refusal to ratify the treaty merely
because II was the product OF Demo-
cratic statesmanship, thus interpos-
ing partisan envy and personal
hatred in the way of peace and re-
newed prosperity of the world.
BY every accepted standard OF in
ternational morality. the President
Is justified in asserting that the
honor of the country Is involved In
this business, and We point to the
accusing fact that before II was de-
termined to initiate political an
tagonism to the treaty the now Re
publican chairman OF the Senate
Foreign Relation, Committee him.
self publicly proclaimed that any
proposition for separate peace
with Germany. such as he and his
party associates thereafter reported
to the Senate. would make US
guilty Of the blackest crime"
Quotes Senator Knox.
On May 18th last. the Knox sub
stitute for the Versailles treaty was
passed by the Republican Senate:
and this convention can contrive no
IL a.
obloquy than that made in the
Forum magazine OF December, 1918
by Henry Cabot Lodge, when he
said:
IF we send our armies and young
men abroad to be killed and wound
ed 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
intent Of the President. was that
there could be no peace until we
could create a situation where no
such war as this could recur. We
cannot make peace except in COM
pany with our allies. II would brand
US with everlasting dishonor and
bring ruin to US also IL We under
took to make a separate peace.
Thus, to that which Mr.. Lodge, in
saner moments, considered "the
blackest crime" he and his party in
madness sought to give the sanctity
of law; that which eighteen months
ago was of everlasting dishonor"
the Republican party and its candi-
dates today accept as the essence OF
faith.
ComD,ends President's Views.
We indorsc the Presidents view
of our international obligations and
his firm stand against reservations
designed to cut to pieces tho vital
provisions of the Versailles treaty
and We commend the Democrats In
Congress for voting against resolu-
tions for separate peace which
would disgrace the nation. We ad-
! vocate the immediate ratification
Of the treaty without reservations
which would impair its essential in
tegrity, but do not oppose the accep-
lance of any reservations making
clearer or more specific the obliga-
tions of the United States to the
league associates. Only BY doing
this may we retrieve the reputation
of this nation among the powers of
the earth and recover the moral
Leadership which President Wilson
won and which Republican politi-
clans at Washington sacrificed. Only
by doing this may We hope to aid
effectively in the restoration OF or
der 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