Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-10-08
WOODROW WILSON'S APPEAL TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE,


3d made directly TO the people.
urged the endorsement of The Lcagi,
Of Nations issue at the election, and
dcclared: 'thc whole world Mill
await your verdict in November as
il would wait for an intimation OF
what its future is to be-"
The President characterized as
absolutely false" assertions that
Article Ten of the League covenant
would make it possible for other ma
lions to lead the United States into
war. There is nothing in the COW
cnant, he said, (which in the least
intcrferes with or impairs the right
of Congress to declare war or not
declare war, according to its own
Independent judgement, as our con-
slitution provides"
The text of his appeal 10 his
counirymen follows:
"The issues of the present cam
paiyn are of such tremendous inn
portance and of such far reaching
significance for the influence of the
country and the development of its
future relations, and | have neces-
sarily had so much to do with their
development. that am sure you will
think it natural and proper that 1
should address to you few words
concerning them. Every one who
sincerely believes in government
by the people must rejoice at the
turn affairs have taken in regard to
This campaign. This election is 10
be genuine national referendum.
The determination Of great policy
upon which The influence and auth
ority Of the United States in the
world must depend is not to be left
10 groups of politicians Of either
party, but is to be referred to the
people themselves for sovereign
|mandate. to their representatives
They are to instruct their own gov
rrnmcnt what they wish done.
THE chief question that is put
10 YOU is, of course, this: "Do YOU
want your country's honor vindi-
Gated and the treaty Of Versailles
ratified? Do you i'll particular ap-
prove of the League of Nations as
organized and empowered in that
treaty? And do you wish to see
The United States play its response
Bic part in it? You have been gross
ly misled in regard to the treaty,
and particularly with regard TO the
proposed character of the League
OF Nations by those who have as
Smed The Serious responsibility
OF opposing it. They have gone so
far th"f those who have spent their
llvcs. as have spent my life, in
lamiliariZing themselves with The
history and traditions and policies
OF the nation, must stand amazed
at The gross ignorance and impudent
alluaclty which has led them to at
tempt to invent an sAmericanism'
0! their own, which has no foun-
dalton whatever in any of the au-
tl'entic traditions of the govern
menf
"Ainericanism as they conceive
II rcvcrSes the whole process of the
iaSf few tragical years. 1t would
substitute America for Prussia in
'h' policy Of isolation and defient
Ss'esrcRation. Their conception of
me dignity of the nation and its
interest is THAT we should stand IL
part and watch for opportunities to
"u'ance our own interests, involve
ourselves in no responsibility for
''c maintenance of the right in the
Mor'h or for the continued vindi-
cnion Of any Of the things for
W, w"ich we entered the war to fight.
'hc conception Of the great Great
nS "i The government was abso-
ln'riN opposite TO this. They thought
VI VI america as The light of the world,
Vt" created to lead the world i'm the
aSSrrtion of the rights of peoples
"n' o.i me rights Of free nations; as de-
,'''td TO set responsible example
'I' inc world of what free COVER
nI'hi IS and can do for The main
n,c vnahcc Of right standards, both
,r;"lona' and international. This
m 3nt inc opponents of the League
To"ia qucnch. They would reIcgatc
rn. Hhiicd States TO subordinate
we III The affairs Of the world"
"hy should we be afraid of re-
n, ,n,'nH,DiI'ty which we are qualified
~ HuSlain, and which the whole of
wy,, w history has constituted a prom
~ ~. |" liie world we would sustain L?
,h,, hS 'hc The most momcntOus issue
nn' No." mas even been presented to The
d. o"plc OF the United States, and
wL J not doubt that the hope of the
,n',' world will be verified by an
-. ''"'"'c assertion by The voters of
,L. ,'"n'rv Of the determination of
H., MED States TO Iiv" up TO all
rro,, Hrtai expectations which they
n'3lcd by cnieriing The war and
ibn "''nG NE other great nations of
crrnfFid MnFid to bring ii 10 victorious