Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1920-09-16

heart. whether 1t 10 to mention de-
vastated France, or sorely-tried Italy,
or nobiy-struggiing Poland, or dis
tracted and misguided Russia, or gal
liant little Belgium. or ptiably deceived
Austria. or the ruthless invader, Ger
many, which came to the supreme
tragedy through a leadership which
brought disaster to her misguided peo-
pie.
ut was with that feeling Of SYM
pathy and desire to serve, that most
reluctantly and with grave misgivings,
as I announced at the time, with
reservations designed TO preserve our
essential liberty Of action. The rec
ord Is made, and under the same con-
ditions. confronted by the same alter
native, I should vote now rs | voted
then.
Conditions Have Changed.
"But the conditions have changed.
Experience has brought enlighten-
rnent. We know now that the league
constituted at Versailles Is utterly i'm
potent as a preventive OF wars II Is
SO obviously inipotent that II has not
even been tried. The original league,
| mistakenly conceived and unreasOn-
ably insisted upon, has undoubtedly
passed beyond the possibility OF res
| toration. The maturer judgment OF
the world will be that II deserved to
pass for the very simple reason that.
contrary to all Of the tendencies devel-
oped by the civilizing processes Of the
world, IL rested upon the power Of
might. not Of right.
"'rhe assertion is made frequently
! that through the surrender of our ma
Of the covenant-that is to say, that.
| although tweDty-eight nations could
not make II function, one added to the
twenty-eight would have achieved a
glowing success. provided. always, that
the one were America.
| This pays to America the tribute
Of exceptional influence. but l suggest
action to bring about the supreme real
ization, then WE ought to have the say
about our own freedom In participate
ing therein. But let us consider what
10 meant by this reliance upon Ameri-
ca. What can II signify IL not that
II Is to the United States. and TO the
United States alone, that the other
and sinew. the money. the munitions
and the men to sustain the entire or
ganization, not as an agency Of peace
but as an armed forcef
A Telling Admission.
~ few days ago a delegation OF an
organization which calls itself n So
ciety for the Prevention OF War ap
pealed to the premier Of Great Britain
to unite and use the powers Of the
world In defense of Poland, Armenia
and the Dardanelles. The British pre-
mier replied. according to his remarks
quoted by the newspapers, to the #
feet that. while the formation Of 'aT
international army would be an idea
solution II could not be accomplish
ed because the European nations coult
not furnish the troops and the United
States had Withdrawn from cO-opera
tion'--a polite and diplomatic phrase
and more exactly meaning, Of course
that the senate OF the United State,
had. not completed the partial obliga
ton assumed by the President TO d.
that very thing-that Ia. to furnish tho
troops Could a clearer Indication al
what would have been expected Of thi.
country as member Of the league h,
desired! Hardly Some, too think. oI
say they think. that this extraor,linar,
service should he rendered do MOI
agree with them. hut. assuming tina,
they are right. ] venture to note tina
nothing stands In the way Of perform
ance The President has only Ia cal
upon Congress to declare war. and u
confer upon him specific authority Il
raise armies for the protection Of ths
powers which. though recently asso
ciated with. ere still foreign 10 oul
own republic.
however. that the President will no
pursue this course. Fortunately, ht
IL under no compelling moral ohliga
fion' under the league tn do So His
recent unhappy experience. moreover
In asking Congress Ia send American
boys Ia police Armenia would hardly
encourage repetition Of request al
ready courteously hut quite firmly de
ciinp,i nv the Congress. What then. II
like circumstances, would he the an
swer Of the British premier himself
In hts own words, addressing meet
ing 81 the Coalition Liberals on Au
gus, IL last. according to the press
reports, he said:
"'When the terrible question 81
peace or war has to he decided. on,
first duty rs government is To the
people. who trust us not To commit,
their treasure 70 any uniustiiiahle nd
venture Nothing hut the n,nst impera
tive call of national honor national
safety and national freedom can tuS
tify war. before this country is com
mitted tn II. evcn In tho most Unite
form. we must he satisfied that these
ARE In peril
II quote these telling words, m,
countrymen, with the utmost satisfac
ton, because with one nmen,im. nj
they express to a nicely my own posi-
t;op I take for granted that m.