Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-01-13

accept the action of the senate of the
United States as the decision of the
nation. l have asserted from the first
that the overwhelming majority of the
people of this country desire the rati-
hcation of the treaty, and my impress
sion to that effect has recently been
confirmed by the unmistakable evi-
dences OF public opinion given during
my visit to IL of the states.
Il have endeavored to make it plain
that If the senate wishes to say what
the undoubted meaning OF the league
is, | shall have no objection. There
can be no reasonable objection to in
terpretations accompanying the act of
ratification itself But when the
treaty is acted upon, / must know
whether it means that we have ratified
or rejected it.
We cannot rewrite this treaty We
must take it without changes which
alter its meaning, or leave it, and
then, after the rest of the world has
signed it, We must face the unthink-
able task OF making another and sep
arate kind of treaty with Germany.
But no mere assertions with regard
to the wish and opinion of the country
are credited. If there is any doubt as
to what the people of the country
think on this vital matter, the clear
and single way out is to submit il for
determination at the next election to
the voters of the nation, to give the
next election the form of a great and
solemn referendum, referendum as
to the part the United States is to play
in completing the settlements of the
war and in the prevention in the fu-
ture OF such outrages as Germany at
tempted to perpetrate
No Right to Refuse.
We have no more moral right to
| refuse now TO take part in the execu-
ton and administration of these set
| Elements than we had to refuse to take
| part in the fighting of the last few
weeks OF the war, which brought vic
tory and made it possible to dictate to
Germany what the settlements should
| be.
| Our fidelity to our associates in the
war is in question, and the whole fu-
ture of mankind. 1t will be heartening
to the whole world to know the at
titude and purpose of the people of the
| United States.
Il spoke just now OF the spiritual
leadership of the United States, think
ing of International affairs. But there
is another spiritual leadership which
is open to US and which we can as
sumo. The world has been made safe
for democracy, but democracy has not
been finally indicated. All sorts OF
crimes are being committed in its
name, all sorts of preposterous per-
Vesions Of its doctrines and practices
are being attempted.
Privilege of Democracy.
This. in my judgment, is to be the
great privilege of the democracy of the
United States, to show that it can lead
the way in the solution of the great
social and industrial problems of our
time. and lead the way to a happy
| settled order of life as we'll as to poll
teal liberty.
| The program for this achievement
we must attempt to formulate. and in
carrying it out we shall do more than
can be done in any other way to sweep
out OF existence the tryannous and
arbitrary forms of power, which are
now masquerading under the name of
| popular government.
whenever we look back to Andrew
jackson, we should draw fresh inspir-
alton from his character and example,
His mind grasped with such splendid
| definiteness and firmness the princi-
pie OF national authority and national
action. He was so indomitabIe in his
purpose to give reality to the princi-
pies of the government, that this is a
very fortunate time to recall his career
ana 10 renew our vows of faithfulness
TO the principles and the pure prac-
tees of democracy.
i rejoice to join you in this renewal
OIL Ta1th and purpose / hope that the
whole evening may be of the happiest
results as regards the fortunes of our
party and the nation"
1t was decided to hold the demo-
cratic national convention in San
Francisco to begin June 2Sth.