Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-22

piring conscience of humankind must
commit the nations Of the earth to o
new aud better relationship.
| II need not be discussed now what
motives plunged the world into war
It need not be inquired whether we
asked the sons of this republic to de-
/ fend our national rights, as | believe
We did. or to purge the old world of
tho accumulated ills of rivalry and
greed. The sacrifices will be in vain
II wc cannot acclaim new order, with
added security to civilization and peace
maintained.
One may readily sense the conscience
of our America. l am sure | under
stand the purpose of the dominant
group Of the Senate. We were not
seeking to defeat a world aspiration,
we were resolved to safeguard America.
We were resolved then, even as we are
TO-DAY and will be tomorrow. to ,rp-
serve this free and independent re-
public.
Welcomes Treaty Referendum
Let those now responsible. or seek
ing responsibility, propose the surren
der. whether with interpretations. apol
ogies or reluctant reservations-from
which our rights are to be omitted-wc
welcome the referendum to the Ameri-
can people on the preservation of Amer
lea, and tho Republican party pledges
its defense Of the preserved inheritance
of national freedom.
In the cali Of the conscience of Amer
ica is peace, peace that closes the
gaping wound of world war and silences
the impassioned voices of international
envy and distrust. IIceding this call
and knowing as ! do the disposition of
7 "a
effective peace so quickly as a Repub-
lican Congress can pass its declara'
tion for Republican executive to sign
Then we may turn to our readjust-
ment at home and proceed deliberately
and rehectively to that hoped for world
relationship which shall satisfy both
, conscience and aspirations and still hold
! us free from menacing involvement.
| can hear in the call of conscience
, an insistent voice for the largely re-
/ duced armaments throughout the
: world. with attending reduction Of bur-
dens upon peace loving humanity. We
wish to give of American influence and
example: we must give of American
leadership to that invaluable accom-
plishment.
= Wants Association OF Nations
. 7 can speak unreservedly of the
, American aspiration and the Repub-
l lican committal for an dissertation of
nations, cooperating in sublime ac-
cord. TO attain and preserve peace
through justice rather than force. de-
termined to add to security through
international law, so clarified that no
misconstruction can be possible without
affronting world honor.
This republic can never be unmind.
full of its power. and must never for.
| h. &c ,N,
Of might that admits no fear, America
must stand foremost for the right. If
the mistaken voice of America, spoken
, in unheeding haste, led Europe, in the
hour of deepest anxiety. into a military
, alliance which mPnaces peace and
, threatens all freedom, instead of adding
to their security, then we must speak
the truth for America and express our
hope for the fratcrnizcd conscience of
nations.
e II will avail nothing to discuss in
= detail the league covenant, which was
! conceived for world supergoyernment,
. negotiated in misunderstanding, and in
r toleranty urged and demanded by its
i administration sponsors. who resisted
!. every effort to safeguard America, and
. who finally rejected when such safe
= guards were inserted.
:. = Resistance to Entanglements
II the supreme blunder has left Eu-
ropean relationships inextricably inter
. woven in the league compact, our sym
n pathy for Europe only magnities our
. own good fortune in resisting involve
. mont. II is better to be the free and
diSinterested agent of international jus =
tcc and advancing civilization, with
the covenant of conscience. than be
j shaCklcd By written compact wnirll
. surrenders our freedom of action and
h gives to a military alliance the right
: to proclaim Americas duty to the
world.
No surrender Of rights to a world
council or its military alliance, no as
| umed mandatory. however appealing,
ever shall summon the sons of this
republic to war. Their supreme saCrr
! flee shall only be asked for America
2 and its call of honor. There is II
sanctity in that right we will not dele y
u gate.
n When the compact was being written
= ] do not know whether Europe asked
or ambition insistently bestowed. Il
;, was so good to rejoice in the world s
Il confidence in our unsefshnrSs that 7
= can believe our evident disinterestec
u ness inspired Europe's wish for our as
-, sociation. quite as much as the selfish
" thought of enlisting American power
n and resources.
o Ready TO Serve Humanity
70 Ours is an outstanding, influential
~ example to the world, whether we
= cloak it in spoken modesty or magnify
~ it in exaltation. We want to help
. we mean to help; but we hold to our
own Interpretation OF the American
conscience as the very soul Of oul
ID nationality
n Disposed as We are. the way is very
Is simple. Let the failure attending as,
re- sumption, obstinacy. mpracticability
=, and delay be recognized, and let us fnC
Is the big, practical, unselfsh way to de
! our part neither covetous because o
:. ambition nor hesitant through fear, bu
-, ready to serve ourselves, humanity anC
~ God.
n. With a Senate advising as the con
IN stitution cOntemplates, | would hope
n, fully approach the nations Of EurOp
d. and of the earth proposing that under
IN standing which makes US a willing par
bo ticipant in the conservation of nation
NC to a new relationship, to commit tn
n ~ moral forces OF the world, America in
ii cluded to peace and internationa
~ Justice, still leaving America free, in
N dependent and self-reliant, but offerin
- friendship to all the world.
If men call for more specific details
le remind them that moral committal
|. are broad an all inclusive. and we az
], contempktfA peoples in the concord !