The Washington herald., 1920-01-09


am to be deprived of the pleasure
and privilege of joining you and
the other loyal Democrats who are
to assemble tonight to celebrate
jackson Day and renew vows Of
fidelity to the great principles Of
our party. the principles which
must now fulfill the hopes not only
of our own people but of the
world
The United States enjoyed the
spiritual leadership of the world
until the Senate of the United
States failed to ratify the treaty
b which the belligerent nations
sought to effect the settlements for
which they had fought through
out the war. 1t Is inconceivable
that at this supreme crisis and
final turning point in the interna-
tional relations of the whole world.
when the results of the great war
are by no means determined and
are still Questionable and depend
ent upon events which no man can
foresee or count upon, the United
States should withdraw from the
concert of progressive and enlight-
ened nations by which Germany
was defeated and all similar gov
ernments Gf the world be so un-
happy as to contain any) warned
Of the certain consequences of any
attempt of a like iniquity. and yet
that 10 the effect of the course the
Senate of the United States has
taken with regard to the treaty
Of Versailles.
Germany is beaten. but we are
still at war with her. and the old
stage is reset for a repetition Of
the old plot
It is now ready for the resumP-
tion of the old offensive and de-
fensive alliances which made set
tied peace impossible. Ii is now
open again to every sort of in
triEue. The old spies are free to
resume their former abominabIe
activities. They are again at lib
erty to make IL impossible for
governments TO be sure what mis-
chief f. being worked among their
own people, what Internal disor-
ders are being fomented. With
out the covenant of the League of
nations there may be as many Sc
cret treaties as ever. TO destroy
the confidence of governments In
each other. and their validity can
not be questioned.
None of the objects we professed
to be fighting for has been secured
or can be made certain of without
this nations ratification of the
treaty and its entry into the COW
enant.
This nation entered the great war
to vindicate its own rights and
TO protect and preserve free gov
ernment 1t went into the war to
see it through to the end, and the
end has not yet come. 1t went
into the war to make an end of
militarism, to furnish guarantees
to weak nations. and to make a
just and lasting peace. 1t entered
it with noble enthusiasm.
Five of the leading belligerents
have accepted the treaty and for
NAL ratffications will soon be eX-
changed. The question is whether
this country will enter and enter
whoIe-hcartediy. IL IL does not do
so the United States and Germany
will play n lone hand in the world.
The maintenance of the peace of
the world and the effective exe-
cution of the treaty depend upon
the whole hearted participation of
the United States.
1 am not stating 1t as a matter
of power.
The point is that the United
States is the only nation which has
sufficient moral force with the rest
Of the world to guarantee the sub
stitution of discussion for war. If
we keep out of this agreement, If
we do not give our guarantees,
then another attempt will be made
to crush the new nations of Eu-
rope.
I do not believe that this is
what the people of this country
wish or will be satisfied with.
Personally, do not accept the
action of the Senate of the United
States ms the decision of the ma
tion. I have asserted from the
frst that the overwhelming mn
torIty of the people Of this eoun-
try desire the ratification of the
treaty, aud my Impression to that
effect has recently been confirmed
By the unmlstakabIe e ''te 81. "a, 80
public opinion given during my
visit to- seventeen of the states.
! have endeavored to make 1t