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

| gument by Pres't Taft, an eloquent
| and scholarly speech by Sen. Lodge
/ senior republican member OF the
/ senate committee on foreign affairs;
/ and one by Pres't Wilson. The OBJ
/ ject of the convention was accom-
/ plished; the president accepted the
principle OF the enforcement OF
peace by a league of nations and in
/ his address joined with Prest Taft
and Sen. Lodge in proclaiming that
| TO be, as Sen. Lodge in his speech
| declared il, the only way in which
! the peace OF the world could be as
sured.
World Accepts Principle.
From that hour until this. the
/ president has not wavered or
/ changed. on Jan. %, 1917, the
1 president addressed the senate and
/ laid out to them the principles Of
the League as the basis for ulti-
mate peace.
In his inaugural address on March
! 4, he stated these principles to the
people Of the country; even in the
; mesa &c of April 2, 1917, which led
/ America into the war on the side
of the allies. the president reiter-
ated the object of America in enter
ing the war 10 be a league OF ma
lions to enforce peace.
During all this time, in public ad-
dresses the president pressed the
plan upon the attention OF the coun-
try.
Although we were then at war.
the president on Jan. s, 1918, ad-
dressed a joint session Of congress
and laid down the fourteen points
upon which peace should ultimately
be concluded
Again, on Feb. II, 1913. in an ad-
dress 10 the two houses Of congress,
the president reiterated the peace
program; and during all this time,
while the senate and the house were
receiving his Interpretation Of
Americas purpose with applause
and aCquiescence, the people OF our
own country were rising 10 inspired
heights OF unselfishness and determ-
nation IN response 70 his plea mat
America devote herself 70 the ulti-
mate idea and ultimate aim 10 make
the war a war against war and the
peace which should conclude il
permanent peace enforced by a
league of nations.
Nor did the power OF his voice or
the inspiration Of his leadership
stop at our own shores.
His messages and papers were
printed in every language which has
an alphabet.
Our allies accepted the vision and
appointed great statesmen 70 begin
the study OF practical details for the
future arrangement.
Neutral nations, oppressed and
scattered peoples in remote parts OF
the world, hailed the doctrine and
the purpose as a great message OF
salvation for humanity; and our en-
emieS laid down their arms, beaten.
IL is true, on the battlefield, but dis
integrated and demoralized at home
because their peoples too had come
10 realize that Americas purpose
had become the purpose OF the war,
and that IL was salutary and healing
10 them as IL was 70 all the rest OF
mankind.
The very request for an armistice
from the enemy was based upon an
acceptance OF the principle OF a
League OF Nations.
Peace Battle OF Paris.
Then the president went 20 Paris.
The victory was won, the peoples OF
the old world were broken and in
despair. With the removal OF the
military danger every sort Of passion
for indemnity and revenge broke
loose TO balk and confuse the plans
for peace. AL the old national and
racial aspirations. all the old relig-
ious and racial animosIties and hos
ulitAs revived Paris became the
boiling point OF the passions OF The
world tnflamed BY suffering and
brought out from the hiding places
into which they had been driven oy
the common menace OF impending
military defeat.
evolved out OF this seething situa-
ton is not such a document as
could have been written IN the cell