The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1920-09-16

est conceivable assistance to- the str 'ck.
en- peoples of Europe. | include all OF
them and speak with a genuinely sym.
pathetic heart, whether III il to men
tion devastated France. orfsorely-tried
Italy. or nobly-struggling Poland, or
distracted and misguided Russia, or
gallant little Belgium. or .pitiably de-
ceived Austria, or the ruthless invader,
Germany, which came to the supreme
tragedy through a leadership which
brought disaster to her misguided peo-
pie.
III was with that feeling or sym
pathy and desire to serve, that most
reluctantly and with grave misgivings.
as ! announced at the time, with
I reservations designed 10 preserve our
essential liberty of action The rec
ord is made. and under The same cor
ditions. confronted by ths same alter
native. ! should vote nov rs voted
then
Conditions Have Changed.
But tile conditions have changed.
Experience has brought enlighten.
ment. We know now that the league
constituted at Versailles is utterly i'm
potent as preventive OF wars II is
SO obviously impotent that 1t has not
even been tried The original league
mistakenly conceived and unreason.
ably insisted upon, has undoubtedly
passed beyond the possibility OF res
toration. The maturer Judgment of
the world will be that 1t deserved to
pass for the very simple reason that,
contrary to all of the tendencies devel-
oped by the cfvilizing processes of the
world. ii rested upon. the power of
might, not of right
The assertion Is made frequently
that through the surrender OF our ma.
tionaiity we might have saved the life
OF the covenant--that is to say, that,
although twenty-eight nations could
not make it function. one added to the
twenty-eight would have achieved
glowing success, provided, always, that
the one were America
''This pays to America the tribute
of exceptional influence. but I suggest
that If the world is dependent upon
our action to bring about the supreme
realization, then we ought to have the
say about onr own freedom in partici-
pafing therein. But let us consider
what Is meant by this reliance upon
America. What can 1t signify il not
that 1t is to the United States, and to
4 bus Init oI1 tlaN okL
ar twenty-eight nations look for the
bone aud sinew, the money, the mum.
tions and the men to sustain the en-
tire organization. not as an agency of
peace, but as an armed force?
A Telling Admission.
"A few days ago delegation of an
organization which calls itself So
eiety for the Prevention OF War ap-
pealed to the premier of Great Britain
TO unite and use the powers Of the
world in defense of Poland. Armenia
and the DardaneIles The British pre-
mier replied. according to his remarks
quoted by the newspapers. to the eff
feet that, while the formation OF AN
international army would be an ideal
solution, ii could not be accomplish
ed because the European nations could
not furnish the troops and the United
States had Withdrawn from co-opera-
tion-a polite and diplomatic phrase
and more exactly meaning, of course,
that the senate of the United States
had not completed the partial obliga-
tion assumed by the President to do
that very thing-that is, to furnish
the troops. Could a clearer indica-
tion of what would have been expect.
ed ct this country as member of the
league be desired? Hardly. Some,
too, think, or say they think, that this
extraordinary service should be rem
dered ! do not agree with them. but,
assuming that they are right, / ven-
ture to note that nothing stands in the
way of performance. The President
has only to call upon Congress to de
clare war. and to confer upon him spe-
ciiic authority to raise armies for the
protection of the powers which. though
recently associated with, are still for.
eign to our own republic
1T IL reasonably safe to assume.
however, that the President will not
pursue this course Fortunately, he is
under no compelling moral obligation
under the league to do so His recent
unhappy experience, moreover, in ask
ing Congress TO send American BOYS
TO Police Armenia would hardly en-.
courage repetition of request al
ready courteously but quite firmly de-
clined by the Congress- What then, in
like circumstances would be the an
swcr OF the british premier himseife
In his own words. addressing a meet.
ing OF the Coalition Liberals on Au.
gust II last, according TO the press re-
ports he said:
When the terrible question OF peace
or war has to be decided, our first
duty as government II To the pee
pie. who trust us not to commit their
treasure to any nnjustifiabIe adven
ture. Nothing but the most fmpera.
tive call ot national honor. national
safety and national freedom can just.
-. N r..