The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-04-05
Voice Of the People

! Voice OF the People |
IUnder this head The Daily Gate
! City will publish communications on
any and all subjects of interest to the
people generally, reserving the right
ito reject unworthy articles or those
inspired by personal luminosity or
malice. All communications must be
accompanied by the names Of the
writer's. The Gate City does not
assume responsibility for opinions or
sentiments expressed In any COM
munication
Why g. A. r. Opposes League.
To the Editor of The Gate City:
England, France and Austria aided
and abetted the southern states in
their efforts to break up the Ameri-
can union, and would have entered
the war on their side but for the
threat of the car of Russia to take
the part of the United States.
The officials and aristocracy OF
England and France subscribed for
large sums of confederate bonds.
Gladstone took and paid for one hun.
bred thousand dollars worth on his
own account. Priyateers were fitted
out by citizens OF these countries,
with knowledge of the governments
to prey upon United States COM
merce. Immense quantities OF war
material were furnished the south
through French and English snug
glers until the beginning Of February,
1864, when the unions navy was
able to keep them out. 1t may be
noted that from that time on the con-
federacy began to fail. 1t was
European war upon the American
union as much or more than the
south's. The issue of slavery between
the states would, in all likelihood,
have been settled within ten years
without war.
Again. at time when the confed
crate artillery was heard daily and
weekly in Washington, France gath
! cred UP her army and landed it in
Mexico in defiance Of the Monroe
doctrine. When the cabinet at
Washington met to protest, Lincoln
! shed tears at the humiliation the
government was compelled to submit
to. France, egged on by England,
established a kingdom, or empire,
with Maximillian. an Austrian Hun,
upon the throne, supported by French
soldiers. About that time England
was getting holder and more insult.
ing. The crowd over there wanted
the United States broken up They
would be the same way again under
the same circumstances.
I! AS soon as the war was over ana
the authority Of the union re-estab-
lished throughout the south, the sec
rotary of state at Washington, ex-
/ Governor Seward, of New York,
called upon the French ambassador
i and requested him to notify his gov.
eminent to get its troops out OF
Mexico. 1t is said that Mr.. Seward
reduced to a diplomatic flnesee OF
words the slang phrase, And don
be very long about it, either At the
same. time he asked the English am
bassador to ascertain il his govern
ment would take up the question OF
payment Of damages to United
] States commerce by the rebel iron
| clad Alabama, constructed and sent
! out from a British port fully armed
and equipped, and John Bull SAID
he would.
O: reader, here were instances
how a nation may maintain its Dig
nifty and rights without war by beng
able and ready to enforce them.
The French tumbled over one an
other to get out of Mexico. MAXI.
MILAN thought to remain on his
throne with the consent of the Mexi'
cans, but, true to their instincts.
they very promptly shot. the top OF
his head off and shipped his BODY
back across the sea. His wife, Queen
Carlotta, went insane and is awe
vet, in some poor quarters Of the old
smashed-up kingdom Of Austria. mus
ended the first and only direct at
tempt to trample upon the Monroe
doctrine.
President Wilson says if the
league with Europe as submitted by
him to the senate is not approved IL
will break the heart of the world.
The world hasn't any heart. 1t IS
controlled by an insatiate appetite
fo. commerce and power The gov
ernments in it must maintain them
selves by moral and physical forces.
OF the latter the soldier stands pre-
eminent.
The old guards of the great Amerl'
can union, G. A. RS, so swiftly pass
ing. leave to the present and coming
generations the injunction, Serve
the Lord and keep your powder dry
.. F. C. OVERTON.
Keokuk. Iowa, April 8, 1920.