South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-04

to instruct their own government
what they wish done
Chief Question.
The chief question that is put to
you is. Of course. this:
DO you want your country
honor indicated and the treaty Of
Versailles ratified? Do you in par
ticular approve OF the League Of
Nations as organized and empower
cd I'm that treaty. And do you
wish 10 see the United States play
its responsible part in Il?
You have been grossly misled
with regard 10 the treaty and par
ticularIy with regard TO the pro-
posed character OF the League Of
Nations by those who have assumed
the serious responsibility OF OppOs-
ing il. They have gone so far that
those who have spent their lives, as
1 have spent my life. in familiariz-
ing themselves with the history and
traditions and policies of the ma
ton must stand amazed at the gross
ignorance and impudent audacity
which has led them TO attempt to
invent an 'Americanism' Of their
own which has no foundation what
ever in any Of the authentic tradt-
tions Of the government.
Would Substitute America.
"AmeriCanism as they conceive IL
reverses the whole process Of the
last few tragical years IL would
substitute America for Prussia in
the policy OF isolation and defiant
segregation. Their conception On
the dignity Of the nation and its IN
terest is that we should staTd apart
and watch for opportunities to ad-
vance our own interests, involve
ourselves in no responsibility for
the maintenance of the right in the
world or for the continued Vindica-
ton OF any Of the things for which
we entered the war to fight.
The conception Of the great
creators of the government was alb
solutely opposite To this. They
thought of America as the light of
the world. as created TO lead the
world in the assertion OF the rights
of peoples and the rights of free
nations as destined 10 set a respon-
sible example to all the world of
what free government is and can do
for the maintenance of right stano
ards, both national and information
al. This light the opponents of the
League would quench. They would
relegate the United States 10 a sub
ordinate role in the affairs OF the
world.
MOmentous Issue.
why should we be afraid Of re-
spousibilities which we are qualified
20 sustain, and which the whole of
our history has constituted a prom
Use TO the world we would sustain
This is the most momentous issue
that has ever been presented to the
people of the United States and
do not doubt that the hope Of the
whole world will be verified by an
q hsolute assertion by the voters Of
the country of the determination of
the United States TO live up TO all
the great expectations which they
created by entering the war and en-
abhng the other great nations of
the world TO bring it to a victorious
conclusion. TO the confusion of
Prussianism and everything that
arises out Of Prussianism.
Surely we shall not fail to keep
the promise sealed in the death and
sacrifice of our incompatible sol
diers. sailors and marines who await
our verdict beneath the sod of
France.
False Statements.
Those who do not care to tell
YOU the truth ABOUT the League u
Nations tell you that article ten of
the covenant of the League would
make il possible for other nations to
lead US into war whether we willed
il by our own independent judg-
ment or not. This is absolutely
false There is nothing in the
covenant which in the least inter
feres with on impairs the right of
congress to declare war or not de-
clare war according to its own
Independent judgment as our con-
stitution provides. Those who drew
the covenant of the League were
careful that it should contain moth
ing which interfered with or i'm
paired the constitutional arrange
ments of any Of the great nations
which are 70 constitute its members.
They would have been amazed and
indignant at the things that are now
being ignOrantly said about this
great and sincere document.
The whole world will wait for
your verdict in November as il
would wait for an intimation Of
what its future il TO be.
ssXNopdroy.- Wilson -