The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-06-28

president Of their own country.
And what was his offense? Merely
this-that he strove to redeem the
word that America had given to the
world; that he sought to save future
generation from the agony through |
which this generation had passed; that
he had taken seriously the premises
that all nations had made that they |
would unite at the end OF the war
in compact to preserve the peace OF
the world and that he relied upon
the good faith Of his own people. If
there was any mistake, 1t was that
ne made too generous estimate OF
mankind, that he believed that the
ldeaism which had made the war
great spiritual victory, could De
relied upon to secure the legitimate
fruit of the war-the reign Of uni
versal peace.
In one sense, it Is quite immaterial
what people say about the president.
Nothing we can say can add or de-
tract from the fame that will fow
down the unendlng channels of his
tory. Generations yet unborn VIII
look back to this era and pay their
tribute Of honor to the man who led
people through troublous ways out
of the valleys of selfishness up to
the mountain tops Of achievement and
honor. and there showed them the
promised land of freedom and safety
and fraternity. Whether history re-
cords that they entered or turned
their backs upon the vision it is all
one with him-he is immortal.
The Requirements Of Honor
There are men who seem to be an
noyed when we suggest that Ameri-
can honor is bound up in this con-
test, and that good faith requires
that we should enter the League Of
Nations. The whole republican case
is based upon the theory that we may,
with honor, do as we please about this
matter and that we have made no
promises which it is our duty to re-
deem. Let US turn again to the rec
ord.
The republican party m its platform
in 1916 had declared for a world
court, for the pacific settlement Of
international disputes" The progress.
i've party in 1912 and 1916 had like
wise declared for an agreement be-
tween nations to make peace perma-
nent. The democratic party in 1916
had specifically declared in favor Of
the establishment Of a League of Ma.
tions The senate itself ,on August
2Sth. 1915. by unanimous vote, passed
a measure requesting the president to
take the lead in such a world move
ment.
On December 18th, 1916, the presi-
dent addressed an identic note to the
nations at war, requesting them to
state the terms upon which they
would deem it possible to make peace
In this note, he proposed the creation
of League of Nations, saying.
"In the measures to be taken to
, secure the future peace Of the world
the people and government Of the Uni
ted States are as vitality and directly
interested as the governments now
at war. They stand ready and
even eager to cooperate in the ac
, complishment of these ends when the
f war is over with every influence ant
resource at their command
This was four months before Amer
lea entered the war.
To this identic note, the Central
/ Powers answered evasively but the
t Allies. in their reply dated at Paris
5 January 10th, 1917 declared:
4 Their whole.hearted agreement with
/. the proposal to create a League oi
2 Nations which shall assure peace ant
t justice throughout the world"
Y On January 22nd, 1917, the presi
= dent addressed the senate with ref
erence to these replies, and said:
"In every discussion Of the peac,
/ that must end this war, 1t is taker
Y for granted that the peace must b,
!. followed by some definite concert Of
/ power which shall make it virtually
+ impossible that any such catastroph,
= shall overwhelm us again"
+ Speaking of the League Of Peac,
l which was to follow the war, he said
= IF the peace presently 10 be made
. is to endure, 1t must be a peace made
= secure by the organized major force
a of mankind"
l. Acting upon these proposals, botf
: the French and the British govern
{ ments appointed committees to study
G the problem while the war was still
i in progress.
}. On April 2nd, 1917, the president
+ delivered his famous war message u
Y congress. and thrilled the heart of the
!. country anew by his announced pur
e pose to make the contest "a wal
z against war High above all of oui
: other aims, he placed
{ "a universal dominion of right by such
e a concert Of free peoples as shall
=. bring peace and safety to all nations
4 and make the world itself at las
. free"
i, Following this message, the con
: gress by resolution, passed April 9Th
>. 1917 recognized the state Of war.
\ On January sth, 1918 the president
j. went before congress and set forth
t his famous Fourteen Points. The
e fourteenth point, which is practically
( Identical in language with the provi
q sions of Article y of the covenant
r provided that
e "a general association of nations mus
= it lpIiIlth bllNtA SptNlllN CONtHtilli
e for the purpose of affording mutua
J. guarantees of political independence,
e and territorial integrity to great ant
Q small states alike"
5 Senator Lodge himself, before tn,
g exigencies Of politics forced him I,
take the other side, said that an at
. tempt to make separate peace woul,
Q brand us with everlasting dshonor'
j. and that "the intent of the congress
[ and the intent Of the president. wa
4 that there could be no peace unit
I, we could create a situation wher
D., / an gpnh ,t.or ,n,IJ .ao,,,