South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-29

ness for months upon a bed OF pain.
and worse than the physical sick
ness. the sickness OF heart which
comes from the knowledge that
| political adversaries. lost 10 the
larger sense OF things. are savagely
destroying not merely the work OF
mems hands. but the worlds hope
/ OF settled peace. This was the af-
I hiction-this the crucihxion.
p, The Glee of Enemies.
AS he lay stricken in the white
| house, the relentless hand OF malice
| beat upon the door Of the sick
| chamber The enemies OF the presi-
dent upon the floor of the senate
repeated every SANDER that envy
| could invent and they could scarce
| ly control the open manifestation Of
| their glee when the great man was
| stricken at last The congress was
in session for months while the
| presid dent lay in the white house,
, struggling with a terrifying illness
| and, at times, close TO the point OF
| death. He had been physically
wounded just as surely as were Gar
field and Mckinley and Lincoln, for
/ II II but a difference OF degree be-
tween fanatics and partisans.
The congress. during all this
L
America ought 10 have been
flowing out, I'm love and SYM
patty, did not find time. amid
their chickering's, to pass one
resolution of generous import
or extend one kindly inquiry as
to the fate OF the president of
their own country.
And what was his offense? Mere
| ly this-that he strove TO redeem
! the word that America had given
| 10 the world. that he sought TO save
/ a future generation from the agony
| through which this generation had
passed; that he had taken serious
| ~ the promises that all nations had
made that they would unite at the
/ end Of the war in a compact 10 pre-
serve the peace OF the world; and
| that he relied upon the good faith
| OF his own people II there was any
mistake, il was that he made a too
| generous estimate OF mankind, that
be believed that the idealism which
| had made the war a great spiritual
| victory, could be relied upon 10 Sc
cure the legitimate fruit Of the war
the reign Of universal peace.
In one sense. II is quite immaterial
what people say about the pres-
| dent. Nothing we can say can add
or detract from the fame that will
| flow down the amending channels of
history. Generations yet unborn will
| look back 10 this era and pay their
| tribute OF honor 70 the man who led
| a people through troublOus ways out
| of the valleys of selfshness up to
the mountain tops Of achievement
j and honor. and there showed them
the promised land OF freedom and
safety and fraternity. Whether his
| tory records that they entered I'm or
| turned their backs upon the vision.
il is all one with him-he is i'm
mortal
The Requirements of Honor.
There are men who seem TO be
annoyed when we suggest that
American honor is bound up in this
contest. and that good faith requires
that we should enter the League of
Nations. The whole republican case
is based upon the theory that we
may. with honor, do as we please
about this matter and that we have
made no promises which il is our
duty 10 redeem. Let US turn again
| TO the record.
The republican party in its plat
form in 1916 had declared for
| world court, for the pacific settle
! ment of international disputes" The
progressive party in 1912 and I'm
916 had likewise declared for an
arrangement between nations TO
make peace permanent. The demo
cratic party in 1916 had specifically
declared in favor of the establish
ment of a League of Nations The
senate itself. on Aug. 2Sth. 1916. by
unanimous vote. passed a measure
no 70 D
lead in such a world movement
on Dec 18th. 1916, the president
addressed an identic note 10 the ma
tons at war. requesting them 20
state the terms upon which they
would deem il possible 10 make
peace. In this note, he proposed
the creation Of a League Of Nations.
saying:
In the measures 10 be taken To
secure the future peace of the world
the people and government Of the
United States are as vitality and di-
reCtly interested as the govern
ments now at war. They stand
ready and even eager 10 cooperate
in the accomplishment OF these ends
when the war is over with every in
iuence and resource at their com
mand."
This was four months before
America entered the war
The Reply of Europe.
To this identic note. the central
powers answered evasively, but the
allies in their reply dated at Paris
Jan. 10th, 1917. declared:
Their whole-hearted agreement
with the proposal 10 create a League
OF Nations which shall assure peace
and justice throughout the world"
on Jan. 22nd, 1917. the president
addressed the senate with reference
70 these replies. and said:
In every discussion OF the peace
that must end war. it is taken for
granted that the peace must be fol-
lowed by some definite concert of
power which shall make IL virtually
impossible that any such catastro-
phe shall overwhelm us again"
Speaking OF the League OF Peace
which was 10 follow the war, he
said:
IF the peace presently 20 be made
is 10 endure il must be a peace made
secure by the organized major force
Of mankind"
Acting upon these proposals. both
the French and the British govern
ments appointed committees 10
study the problem while the war
was still in progress.
on April md. 1917. the president
delivered his famous war message
TO congress, and thrilled the heart