The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-01-09
AMERICA OR THE COVENANT? NO MAN CAN
SERVE TWO MASTERS.
Manufacturers Record, Baltimore, Md.)

Senator Borah, who is a responsible officer OF
the Government, definitely charges that money is
being freely spent in Washington to get the Peace
Treaty through the Senate by any kind OF bargain
or trade "Defeated in the open field of debate"
he says "the real forces which have been the finan-
cia support of the fight to surrender American IN
dependence have retired into secluslon to hx
up a scheme by which they can: (a) Through some
compromise or trade changes in the reserva-
tons so as to get enough votes to put it through,
regardless of whether American interests are pro-
tected or not; (b) Having put it through in this
way, the same forces hope through their great in
huence with the leaders of both political parties
and their control campaign subscriptions, to
keep it entirely out of the campaign of 1920, so
that the people will never have chance to pass
upon the question"
We doubt if the Senator intended to charge that
money was being llicitly employed to influence the
final decision of the Senate. That would be
ceedingly violent suspision wholly unjustified by
any evidences at hand. What he does mean to say
is that the propaganda behind the League is amply
financed as it has been from the beginning, and
that the capital is swarming with agents whose
chief business is to bring the Senate to terms Nor
are these agents professional lobbyists. They
for the most part men who stand high in the est-
nation of the country men who themselves believe
in the cause they seek to further, albeit their
quirements are such that the wherewithal for bed
and board is accepted from other than their
own banks. We do not quarrel with them, but it
is we'll that the country should know what they are
about and how they about it.
The interests involved in the Peace Treaty are of
preponderant Importance. They embrace, directly
or indirectly, tBe industry and trade of the whole
world. For while the lines the treaty draws
geographical or clinical, hidden between the SEN
tences of necessity is economic advantage or dis
advantage not only for nations, but also for bus-
ness everywhere Particularly is this true of bus
ness in European countries, where the bankruptcy
of credit has tainted the currency issues until the
medium of barter has become in many cases
record of printing-press activity.
1t is to our advantage, materially and morally,
that the terrific strain under which Europe labors
should be lightened. 1t is our solemn duty to
that the things for which young died in
France are achieved beyond the risk of forfeit: that
Germany should not escape the penalty of her GRIM
inality. Into the archives of accomplished fact,
therefore, the treaty, as it imposes terms on the
Hun, can be tossed, without risk. On that there is
universal agreement. Not once, in fact during the
long debate in the Senate was there serious at
tack on any feature of the treaty so far as it af
fected Germany The President and the men
sociated with him in Paris achieved triumph of
the first magnitude, according to public belief, in
the drafting Of the peace terms themselves.
What then, was the colossal blunder which holds
the country technically at than twelve
months after the lamentable decision to grant the
common enemy Of mankind armistice? Why is
it that the Premers of our chief Allies have been
forced to meet in London and consider doing all
over again what was supposedly done months ago?
Why is it that the barometer of trade provisions
Storm with credit tumbng and the whole structure
of international business threatened with collapse?
Because the President insisted on embroidering
the treaty with an arbitrary design. He insisted
that the world could be made safe for democracy
only by the creation of a government to which
would be conided the destines of America. He
held no mandate to do anything more than con-
clude peace. No authority had directed him to con-
struct new edfce of government for this people.
He bore no commission to create creature to
which he and all Americans would transfer the allie
glance which he by oath and others by virtue of
their nationality owed to the Washington Govern
ment. No man, unless thrilled to his finger tips
with sincere belief in such cause could have given
to it the devotion which Mr.. Wilson has evinced.
We do not question his sincerity. But when we
balance his judgment against that of the great men,
dead and living, who have seen in his covenant the
letters of fire which previous Daniel interpreted
the scales dip down so far against him that there Is
not even the semblance of an equation.
The President himself is responsible, first, last
oil thn for he of decision. He