Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-28

light has been shed on the patriot dutN
M the coming election; because the morai
issue in the campaign has been made
clearer To this clarihcation the kepuoil-
can candidate for the Presidency has con-
trihutcd much. and so has the statement
lately ISSUED bv 81 eminent Republicans
II this lrht can be carried into the minds
and hearts of few millions OF voters IN
the doubtful States during the next lew
days, decisive verdict Will be returned
on November 2.
What is the main condition or fact con-
cerning which the American voters are 10
render a verdict The main fact Is that
small group of Republican Senators nave
prevented the American people from DONG
their part In the great enterprise which
was devised and proposed by the Inter
national Conferences at Paris, the reasons
tlven for Their action by the members OF
he group being so selfish, mean and
,owardly that they together constitute
dander on the national character. Those
conferences developed covenant tor
'eague of Nations which was the embodl-
ment Of ideals long cherished by political
and religious philosophers, but now hrst
put INTO practicable shape, the leaders IN
that merciful undertaking being American
.tatesmen and scholars.
For n wear and quarter already the
American people have been prevented
from dong their part towards winning the
fruits ~ the military victory, from stand
ng faithfully by their comrades in arms,
from promoting the reduction of arma-
merts, the destruction OF the military
class the abolition of secret diplomacy.
and the prevention Of war by dealing
promptly and publicly IN International
bodies with lucipiCnt causes of war. ms
l> the mortlfyiug and slckenlng tact.
which has now gone INTO history. Who DID
this evil thing? The group of senators who
,ietcated ratification
The main concern AT the coming cleo
ton Of every believer IN democracy. of
Every man who has confidence IN the
magnanlmit,. courage. and GOOD faith of
The american people A. a whole. of every
u.an who thinks that al honorable and
profitable business ls founded on the COM
plctc fulflment OF obligations. oral or
written, ls how the government and people
4 the nIted States can he rescued from
this thTslldom, placed again IN honorable
operation with the 40 od,l nations al-
'"adv ~ the league. and rcSto red 70 then
uatural position IN the world rs the lead
ne advocates of liberty. justice and pcac"
tof all men. The precise question before
the intelligent and conscientious voter to-
lay i. For which candidate shall vote.
n the hope of restoring my country 70 rs
rghtful position among the nations
The Republican candidate was selected
~ the very group of Republican leaders
: 10 have put this country into its present
umlhetIng and lmpotcnt position. and
.e : sure to hc their tool The Republican
.atforr actually commcndS those same
sepUhl'can leaders for lhcE action IN the
,'nate.
The D~moer attic platform, on the other
and anr,roves and supports the revised
tvcnaul and treaty; and the Democratic
'onVCnt.on nominated q man who de
arc> that he s IN favor Of carving The
.nuir, INTO tho League Of Nations with
O. without modIt cations therein IEc
epubhcan candidate = IN favor of STAYING
Il al tho league. the Democratic, ot
cttng IN.
~ tins point must confess. thar am
nabc tc understand how any believer IN
,C American sort 81 liberty with security
-,n hesitate ahOut his choice That choice
iould bc, for this tune At least the DEM
cratic party and Its nominees
And vet. = few daVs ago read q care
lis drawn statement signed by 81 men.
th raust oi " hom ] nav, been a~snClTtcd
works concerning education, public wei
~ and peace, who give the opposite adj
tcr 10 their countrymen. These men seem
8 ~ unanimously IN favor OF q League Ci
ations but at the same TIM g recommend
lclr countrymcn 70 put INTO the Presi-
. encv a man who rejects the only League
Nations which has been actually
rUught INTO existence .ld i functIOnng
-, adSl-e voting fur the man Selcctet.
t.v the very group 81 RCpubhcan leaders
, ho have brought the present disgrace on
ine rcpuhh- VI hat effect should that re-
nlarksblc statement have on new voters,
IN Wunen voters who want 10 make the
light uSe Oi their new power come 10
I hem under circumstances OF great dill
hculfN and on the millions Of voters whose
.ttachment TO party i not Impregnabiet
: must try 10 indicate with accuracy Just
what effect that statement ought TO have
On open minds and generous hearts
Their arr several points III the statement
u sef which should be remarked by every
, er~on liable 10 bc influenced by It
/ inst the following statement docs not
conform 10 veli-known facts The question
whether We shall ION IAN international
= sociat.on under an agreement contain
"A the exact provisions negotiated by
resident "a son ~ Paris, or under an
rr,efnent which omIts or modlheS some ut
tosc ITuvlSluns that are very objection
.nle 70 great numbers OF the American
,s.uple" Ihat + not now the question,
and never has been SINCE the revised
covenant and treaty were laid before the
senate. l'resldCut Wilson mas repeatedly
stated Ms readiness 70 accept modlfica-
,Ions which do not destroy the effective
I,sss o. the covenant and treaty. This IN
correct affirmation IN regard 10 the atti-
,uae NJ President Wilson r. repeated IN the
following sentence: but Mr.. Wilson re-
fused to accept these notifications and
insisted upon the agreement absolutely
unchanged The same point Is insisted
upon in the following sentence: The
lbemocratic platform and candidate stand
,inu,lalitedy for the agreement negotiat-
rd al Paris without substantive modlfjCa-
ton. Tins Is a misleading statement
about the Democratic platform and
candidate, which IS not improved by resort /
- the use of an obscure adjective sub |
stantive" before the word ''nodlica- |
ton.
The statement then makes two quota |