Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-01-17

Of the peace az the world and the Ell
tective execution OF the treaty depend
uaou the whole hearted participation
o.. the United States .n NOT stating
f, as matter %. power. The point is
ln4. Che United States IS jhn only IA
ton which has sufficient moral force
with the rest off the world I'd gIuran-
tee the substitution of discussion Tor
war. 1--WE keep out of this agreement
if We do not give our guarantees. then
another attempt will be made to crush
the new nations Of Europe.
People Desire Ratification.
Il do not believe that this is what
the people of this country wish or
will be satisfied with. Personally, l
do not accept the action Of the senate
of the United States as the decision
Of the nation. | have asserted from
the first that the overwhelming ma
jority of the people of this country
desire the ratification of the treaty
and my impression to that effect has
recently been confirmed by the I'M
mistakable evidences of public opinion
given during my visit to seventeen OF
the states. | have endeavOred to make
it plain that if the senate wishes to
say what the undoubted meaning of
the league is, | shall have no obJec-
ton. There can he no reasonable OBJ
lection of Interpretation accompanying
the act Of ratification itself. But
when the treaty is acted upon | must
know whether il means that we have
ratified or rejected it. We can not
rewriJe this treaty. We must take it
without changes which alter it's mean
ing. or leave il. and then. after the rest
of the world has signed it, we must
face the uufhinkable task of making
another and separate kind of treaty
with Germany.
Submit at Election.
But no mere assertion with regard
to the wish and opinion of the country
is credited. If there is any doubt as
to what the people Of the country
think as to this vital matter, the clear
and single way out is to submit it 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 settlement OF
| the war and in the prevention in the
| future of such Outrages as Germany
attempted to perpetrate. We have no
more moral right to refuse now to take
part in the execution and administra-
| ton of these settlements than we had
| to refuse to take part in the fighting
of the last few weeks of the war which
brought victory and made it possible
| to dictate to Germany what the settle
ments should be. Our fidelity to our
associates in the war is in question,
and the whole future of mankind. 1t
will be heartening to the whole world
to know the attitude and purpose of
the people of the United States.
Spiritual Leadership of United States.
81 spoke just now of the spiritual
leadership of the United States, think
ing of international affairs. But there
\ IS announcer spif'I1dai ieadefsii.l WING
is open to us and which we can a.
J sumo. The world has been made SAT
for democracy, but democracy has NO
= been finally INDICATED. All sorts @
, crimes are being committed in it
name, all sorts of preposterous per- el
: sions of its doctrines and practices ar
icing attempted. This, in my judg
ment, is to be the great privilege O
the democracy of the United States, t
show that it can lead the way in tn
solution of the great social and indus
trial problems of our time and lea
the way to a happy, settled order Q
life as well as to political liberty TIL
program for this achievement we mus
attempt to formulate, and in carryin
it out we shall do more than can b
done in any other way to sweep on
of existence the tyrannous and arb
trary forms of power which are nov
masquerading under the name of POI
ular government.
Whenever We look back to Andrey
Jackson we should draw fresh inspirs
ton from his character and example
His mind grasped with such a spler
did definiteness and firmness the prir
ciples of the government that this
al action. He was so indomitabe il
his purpose to give reality to the prir
caitples of the government that this i
very fortunate time to recall his ca
reer and to renew our vows of faithful
ness to the principles and the pur
practices of democracy. | rejoice t
join you in this renewal of faith an
purpose. | hope that the whole ever
ing may be of the happiest results a
regards the fortunes of our party an
the nation"
Must Face Issue Says Bryan.
Washington.-William ]. Bryan spill
openly with President Wilson at tn
Jackson Day dinner Thursday night
on the question of whether the demo
cratic party should make the leagu
of nations an issue at the next cleo
ton. He declared the democrats coul
not go before the country on the issu
and that they must accept such com
promises as may be possible.
Our plan has been rejected an,