Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-09-09
HARDING GLAD AMERICANS
ARE A FREE PEOPLE
Continued from page FOUR

Vustdt60 Franco or Boroiy-trleo italy,
or nobly-struggling Poland, or dis
tructed and misguided Russia. or gal.
liant ntt!c Belgium, ot pitisbiy deceived
Austria. or the ruthless invader. Ger
many, which came to the supreme
tragedy through q leadership which
brought disaster to her misguided peo-
pie.
1T was With that feeling Of SYM
patty and desire TO serve, that most
reluctantly and with grave misgivings.
as ! announced at the time, l with
reservations designed to preserve our
essential liberty Of action. The rec
ord Is made. and under the same con-
dirons. confronted by the same alter.
native, l should vote now as l voted
then.
Conditions Have Changed.
But the conditions have changed.
Experience has brought enlighten-
ment We know now that the league
constituted at Versailles Is utterly i'm
potent as a preventive Of wars. IL Is
so obviously impotent that It 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 II deserved To
pass for the very simple reason that,
contrary 10 all OF the tendencies devel-
oped by the civilizing processes OF the
world. It rested upon the power OF
might, not OF right.
The assertion is made frequently
that through the surrender OF our ma
tionallty we might have saved the life
Of the covenant-that Is TO say, that.
although twenty-eight nations could
not make IL 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 suggest
that II the world is dependent upon our
action 10 bring about the supreme real
ization, then we ought TO have the say
about our own freedom in partic. 'at-
ing therein. But let us consider what
is meant by this reliance upon Ameri.
ca. What can II signify II not that
II is TO the United States. and TO the
United States alone, that the other
twenty-elght nations look for the bone
and sinew, the money, the munitions
and the men 20 sustain the entire or
ganization. not as an agency Of peace.
but as an armed forcef
A Telling Admission.
a few days ago a delegation Of an
organization which calls itself So.
ciety for the Prevention Of War mp
pealed 10 the premier Of Great Britain
TO unite and use the powers of the
world In defense Of Poland. Armenia
and the Dardanelles. The British pre-
mier replied, according 10 his remarks |
quoted by tine newspapers, TO the eff. |
feet that while the formation Of an |
international army would be an ideal |
solution Il 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-
ton assumed by the President 10 do !
that very thing-that is, 10 furnish the |
troops. Could a clearer indication Of |
what would have been expected OF this
country as member Of tile league be |
desired7 Hardly. Some. too, think,-or |
say they think, that this extraordinary |
service should be rendered. ! do not |
agree with them, but assuming that |
they are right, ! venture TO note that |
nothing stands In the way Of perform |
ance The President has only 10 call |
upon Congress to declare war, and TO
confer upon him specific authority 10
raise armies for the protection Of the
powers which. though recently asso-
ciated with. are still foreign TO our
own republic.
ut is reasonably safe to assume,
however, that the President will not
pursue this course. Fortunately. he
Is under no compelling moral obliga.
ton under the league 10 do so. His
recent unhappy experience, moreover.
In asking Congress 10 send American
bows 10 police Armenia would hardly
encourage repetition OF a request al.
ready courteously but quite firmly de-
clined by the Congress. What then. In
ike circumstances. would he the an
In his own words, addressing meet
Ing Of the Coalition Liberals on Au-
gust - last. according TO the press
reports, he said:
"'When the terrible question Of
peace or war has 10 be decided. our
frst duty as government is 10 the
people, who trust US not 10 commit
venture Nothing but the most impera-
tive call OF national honor. national
safety and national freedom can Jus.
lily war. Before this country IL com.
mitted 70 II, even in the most limited
form, we must be satisfied that these
are in peril
81 quote these telling words my
with the utmost satisfac-
ion. because with one amendment
hey express 10 a nicely my own posi-.
ion. ] take for granted that the
prime minister meant to include In
treasure the greatest treasure of all
put. for myself ] should leave moth.
ng TO be inferred. Foremost and above
III else to he safeguarded by those
" us who hold the trust OF the PEG.
Die. II goes without saying, hut cannot
he too often repeated. Is the manhood
" the nation
VIII Not Misuse Power.
NOV II NAV annenr 10 Won TINT