The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-08-12
At Mile Laos County Fair
Cox's Speech.

COx's Speech.
Governor Cox's speech of acceptance
is finally before the public. To be
absolutely frank we believe his speech
was received with more interest than
was Harding's. One big issue con-
fronted Governor Cox, the league Of
nations. The American public, with
its sporting instinct fully aroused,
awaited with keen interest his views
in regard to this famous document.
Would he yield to President Wilson,
who stubbornly maintains his original
position on the league, would he dare
brook the displeasure of our auto
cratic president or would he so adroit-
ly handy the situation that in some
unforeseen way he could avoid either
Of the extremes? Mr.. Cox came
out square!y for the laague; we must
credit him with courage He stands
pat with Wilson on that issue:
"We advocate immediate ratification
of the treaty without reservations
which would impair it's essential in
tegrity, but do not oppose the accep-
tance of any reservation making
clearer or more specific the obligations
of the United States to the league as
sociates."
Now it is just possible that Mr.. Cox
really is in favor Of the Wilson league
If so, how fortunate is the democratic
party in having man as Wilson'S
successor whose mind so willingly goes
along with his. Governor Cox states:
president Wilson, as our represen-
tative at the peace table, entered the
league in our name, in so far as the
executive authority permitted. Senator
Harding, as the republican candidate
for the presidency, proposes in plain
words, that we remain out of it. AS
the democratic candidate, I favor go
ing in"
Did President Wilson go Gas our
representative to the peace table," did
he make an honest effort to ascertain
the Judgment Of the American people
on the league question? He ignored
the warning Of the republican sena-
tors who signed the round robin pro-
testing against the league as it was
then being framed. Remember these
senators were elected by the people
only through them could the mass of
the people speak at that time. He
went as the representative of Woodrow
Wilson. He did not avail himself of
the counsel of any of our most eminent
jurists such as Elihu Root, who has
been summoned to San Sebastian to
assist in establishing league of ma
lions court. The public does not as
yet know just what will be the charac-
ter of this court, but it is generally be-
lieved that its functions will be some
what similar to those of the Hague
tribunal. It is to such a body as this
that Senator Harding pledges his sup
port when he states: 81 can speak
unreservedly of the American aspira-
ton and the republican committal for
an association of nations, cooperating
in sublime accord, to attain peace
through justice rather than force, de-
termined to add to security through
international law, so classified that no
misconstruction can be possible with
out affronting world honor"
There is today probably not single
European nation that approves of the
league covenant in its present form.
The American people will have the
opportunity to express themselves on
this question next November. If they
want the unmodifed league as it ex-
lists today they should give Cox
rousing majority.
In speaking of the wisdom of max
ing separate peace with Germany,
Mr.. Cox states:
"a separate peace with Germany!s
This would be the most disheartening
event in civilization since the Russians
made their separate peace with Ger