Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-10-05
OUR PRESIDENT AT 1T AGAIN.

Apparently not profting by the severe lesson adj
minstered to him by the people of the United States
two years ago, when they refused to be told how
they should vote in the congressional elections
President Wilson has issued another plea to the cleo
torate the nation urging to vote his way on the
league of nations issue.
From present indications it seems likely that his
tory is about to repeat itself. The vote cast by the
nation in November, 1918, clear reputation
of the Wisonian leadership, especially in view of
the appeal he had made the eve of the elections
Under the European cabinet system, a government
leader would been forced to resign in such cir
cumstances. Premier Orlando of Italy resigned be-
cause the italian chamber of deputies refused him
a vote of confidence; what would he have had to
do if the entire Italian nation, by direct vote at
the polls had refused him such vote? European
history is full of such examples. No European ex-
ecutve official dare remain in office after the people
or their representatives clearly express their repu-
dation of his leadership. t
Yet President Wilson, in the face of such definite
reputation, still prcsumes, from his chair in the
White House. to insist that the people of the United
States accept his views upon question that Wit
ally affects the future of their nation and of their
children.
With his usual Impotence for those who disa-
gree with him, the president says:
"Those who do not care to tell you the truth
about the league of nations tell you that Article
of the covenant of the league would make it pos
sble for other nations to lead into war whether
we wled it by our Independent Judgment or not.
This is absolutely false. There is nothing in the
covenant which in the least interferes with i'm
pairs the right of congress to declare not
declare according to its own independent judg-
ment, constitution provides"
Yet the text of Article X is clear enough
"rhe members of the league undertake to re-
spect and against external aggression the
territorial integrity and existing political ndepend-
cnce of all members of the league In case of any
such aggression, in case of any threat danger
of such aggression the council shall advise upon the
means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled"
Shall accept the language of the covenant orr
President wilson's Interpretation of it? Is not the
very fact that there be honest disagreement as
to what the language means in itself warning
against accepting this covenant without amendment?
Once again in his plea to the American people
does President Wilson show his intolerance for those
who differ with him He says that the creators of
the government" would have been amazed and in
dignant at the things that now being lGNOR
ANTLY said about this great and sincere document"
1t is this autocratc attitude of President Wilson
that will not only defeat the present covenant but
also the entire democratic party at the coming
tional election. We Americans can be guided, but
we refuse to be bosscd. If the president had taken
with him real advsers-not rubber stamps-to
sentiments of the entire American people rather than
those of himself, the entire nation would not be
split the question of the world league 1t would
be an American covenant instead of Wisonian
covenant
The American people want some international
that will prevent war. But the ma
ority of them do not want the particular under
standing embraced in the document that President
wilson brought back in his pocket from Paris. They
want an understanding that has been threshed out
and agreed upon by the nations leading statesmen,
and not by statesman only, great as he may be.
They want to feel that their representatives in con-
sress have had something to say regarding docu
nent that is to exercise such profound effect on
The destnies of their children and of their country
They do not want sign on the dotted line"
covenant,
1t is to be hoped that the concept of a world as
ISOLATION for the preservation of international peace
will not be wrecked by the Wlsonian obstinacy But
better no league rat all than league that sacrifices
the very traditions that have safeguarded our nation
for the last century and half
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