South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-17

Of a solitary. undisturbed by the
conflicting cries and passionate am
billions Of an unsettled world. The
president had a choice 70 make He
could have come back 10 America
and left the world 10 scramble for
itself and finish an almost completed
destruction of civilization by fresh
alliances, fresh conflicts, and fresh
sCrambles for what was left OF the
worlds wealth and power. He elect
ed 10 stay and secure such a com
position as was possible in the main
part Of the treaty, in order that he
might bring back the covenant or a
League of Nations which would
moderate the treaty IN it's applica-
ton and make firm the basis Of
peace for the future.
What the pressure was IL is diff
fcult for US now to conceive, but
through II all the president persist
ed with sublime steadfastness. and
when he came home he brought
treaty about which minor differ
ences OF opinion are easily possible.
but also a covenant for a League of
Nations, plain, practical, definite.
and effective 10 insure justice and
preserve peace among nations. the
very literal embodiment Of the pro-
2 < t1llL VI tic l4fdEut 10 GlHkNL Lt
Peace; the completed fuldllment of
ginning advocated and persuaded
into acceptance in America and in
the rest Of the world.
Congress and People Consulted.
The treaty may contain evidences
OF European feeling and passion, on
subjects about which European ma
lions believed the war to be fought.
the settlements may be colored by
their engagements and desires, but
on the subject for which America
fought the war-the permanent
peace Of the world. the covenant Is
American.
1 have examined the messages
and papers of the presidents from
the beginning OF our covenant until
now, and in no other instance has
any president ever consulted the
senate or the congress before a war,
during a war or at the conclusion
of a war. as fully as Pres't Wilson
consulted our congress and our SEN
ate on the subject Of this war. its
object, or the terms Of the peace
which should conclude II.
In every other instance the presi-
dent has taken the position that the
war was 10 be fought through 10
successful conclusion before the
terms Of peace could be discussed;
but IN this instance the president
stated them before we went into the
war, reiterated them while we were
at war, and returned from the peace
conference during its negotiation Of
the treaty 10 lay the terms before
the senate and secure its sugges-
tions and counsel.
Son Iodgc Real T-rrcnt
On the other hand. what was the
course Of Sen. Lodge from the date
Of the eventful banquet OF the
League TO Enforce Peace2 At that
banquet he Joined forces 20 urge the
president 20 adopt the policy OF the
League. ne demonstrated that we
had reached the limit Of usefulness
OF arbitration treaties, that Amer
lea, OF all nations in the world
stood for the principle OF arbltra-
ton. having made in all 81 treaties
for that purpose, but that we had at
last come 70 the place where further
hope lay only in concerning the arm
ed force OF the civilized powers 20
enforce peace upon lawless nations.
He committed himself wholly and
deeply 10 the program the only
doubt he permitted himself 20 ex-
press was as 20 whether other ma
tons would be ready 10 enter into
such an arrangement, and then dra-
matically exclaimed that we must
try il anyhow, that II We failed fu-
ture generations might succeed. He
cast his lot IN with those who now
were 10 try. however difficult the
task: and az the end Of his speech
detained. with fine earnestness.
Matthew ArnOld's great lines:
Charge again. then. and be dumb
Let the victors, when they come,
When the Forts OF Folly fall.
Find your body By the wall"