The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-07-02
Text TO WHICH
DEMOCRATSPIN
PLATFORM HOPE
Strongest Efforts Of Party Couched
in Forceful Words to Garry
Next Election.
League Of Nations,

League Of Nations.
The Democratic party favors the
League Of Nations as the surest. If
not the only, practicable means Of
maintaining the permanent peace
Of the world and terminating the
burden of great mill
tary and naval establishments. 1t
was for this that America broke
away from traditional isolation and
spent her blood and treasure to
crush . colossal scheme Of con-
quest. It was upon this basis that
the president Of the United States.
in pre-arrangement with our al
lies, consented to q suspension Of
hostilities against the imperial
German government, the armistice
was granted and q treaty Of peace
negotiated upon the definite assur-
ance to Germany, as well as to the
powers pitted against Germany,
that. "a general asociation Of na-
tons mnst be formed, 49, under
specific covenants, for the purpose
Of affording mutual guarantees OF
political Independence and terri
torial integrity to great and small
states alike"
Hence, we not only congratulate
the president on the vision mani
tested and the vigor exhibited In
the prosecution Of the war; but we
felicitate him and his associates on
the exception achievement at Paris
involved in the adoption Of league
and treaty so near akin to prev
iously expressed American ideals
and so intimately related to the as
pirstions Of civilized peoples every.
where.
We commend the president fol
his courage and his high concep-
ton Of good faith in steadfastly
standing for the covenant agreed to
by all the associated and allied ma
tions at war with Germany, and we
condemn the Republican senate for
its refusal to ratify the treaty
merely because it was the product
Of Democratic craftsmanship, thus
interposing partisan envy and per.
sonal hatred In the way OF peace
and renewed prosperity Of the
world.
By every accepted standard Of In.
ternational morality, the president
is justified in asserting that thu
honor Of the country is involved In
this business: and We point to the
accusing fact that, before 1t was de-
termined to initiate political antag'
onism to the treaty, the now Repub-
lican chairman of the senate for.
eign relations committee himself
probably proclaimed q proclama'
ton for q separate peace with Ger
many, such as he and his party as,
sociates thereafter reported to the
senate, would make US guilty ol
the blackest crime"
On May Is, last, the Knox substi-
tute for the Versailles treaty wa<
passed by the Republican senate
and this convention can contrive nc
more fitting Characterization Of it,
obloQuy than that made in tht
Forum magazine Of December, 1918
by Henry Cabot Lodge. when h'
said: r..t
III we send our armies and young
men abroad to be killed and wound
ed in northern France and Flanderi
with no result but this, our en-
trance into war with such An in
tention was . crime which nothing
can justify. The intent Of congresl
and the intent Of the president wal
that there could be no peace unit
We could create q situation wher'
no such war a. this could 'recur
We can not make peace except il
company with our allies. 1t woult
brand us with everlasting dishonol
and bring ruin to us also II w
undertook to make separate
peace"
Thus to that which Mr.. Lodge, II
saner moments considers the black
est crime," he and his party in mad
mess sought to give the sanctity o
law; that which lS months ago va
Of everlasting dishonor" the Re
publican party and its candidates
today accept as the essence Of faith
We endorse the presidents viev
OF our international obligations AM
his firm stand against reservation
designed to cut to pieces the vita
provisions Of the Versailles treat,
and we commend the Democrats 4
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