Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-10-01

1t is weak and powerless, q house of
cards, rope of sand; that if it were
OF any use it would have prevented
all the Bolshevist and other existing
wars in Europe; that England could
outvote us and override us; that the
League could compel us to 70 to war
against our will; that it could order
our soldier boys abroad; that the
League would create wars, instead of
preventing; that it would STEREOTYPE
forever existing boundaries; that il
would crush the hopes of Ireland and
many other things.
These are all absolutely and utter
~ untrue Most of the objections des-
troy each other. The League cannot
De at once dangerous and harmless.
England didn't "put over" the votes
OF her colonies. On the contrary Eng
iand mad great misgivings about let
| ting canada, Australia, India, South
Africa and New Zealand get these
votes
Moreover, these votes of British
Colonies could never by any possibili-
ty hurt us because we have an Also
lutte vote on any measure concerning
ourselves. Majority vote is not the
rule of the League, but unanimitv
On the contrary, by STAYING out of
the League and having no voice or
veto we are at the mercy of the other
members, should they unanimously
take some action against our inter-
csts. by staying out we not only per-
mt such action, but may even in
duce 1T as our aloofness is already
beng regarded as an unfriendly at
tltude. We are running the risk of
creating new alignment of interna-
tlonal feeling; the world against the
United States. e
Not Super Government.
For the same reason we are not
subject to the "orders" of a "for-
eign' League. Under the constitu-
ton OF the League nothing whatever
can be even recommended unless we
through our representatives wish it.
And any military act by the United
states Will require in addition ac-
ton by Congress. The League is not
super-government," for it has no
authority to compel any action on its
members and no power even to levy
taxes Tor its own support. 1t is not a
government, but only league, i. e.,
means of cooperation of SOVEREIGN
nations.
The League does not prevent
boundaries being changed. but only
prevents their being changed bv war
by external aggression. In fact. it
provides much-needed MACHINERY for
changing boundaries by arbitration.
and it does not interfere in internal
revolutions.
Some critics objected to the first
tentative draft of the League on the
ground that it interfered with the
Monroe Doctrine. 1t didn't, vet to
silence criticism, specific reference
to the Monroe Doctrine was inserted
in the final draft.
But the critics didn't want to he
satisfied. So. when forced to drop the
Monroe Doctrine objection, they com
planned, instead, of Article x, al
t.,--Is.i as both Mr.. Taft and Cover
nor Cox have pointed out, Article y .,
is the Monroe Doctrine evte-i d to
the whole world. Article x. states
that members undertake to respect
and preserve as against external az
gression the territorial integrity and
existing political independence of all
members" The Monroe Doctrine
means that the United States under
takes to respect and preserve, as
against European aggression. the
territorial integrity and existing po-
litical independence of American ma
tions. In short, first, they insisted
we should put in the Monroe Doct-
rine specifically. and now they ask
that we take it out in general
The typical self-respecting Ameri-
can independent is beginning to re-
sent what he believes to be ATTEMPTS
to hoodwink him, to play on his pre-
JUDGES and fears, to capitalize anv
dissatisfaction he may have with
Wilson or any dislike of England.
and to pervert his patriotism into
national selfishncss. all for the mr.
pose of capturing his vote next No
vembcr.
Point of National Honor.
(3) To uphold the honor of the ma
tion-lf we go into the League we
should do SO not as slackers, but as
we went into the war, willing and |
eager to, bear our share of the re-
sponsibilities.
Mr.. Cox and Mr.. Taft both COM
pare Article X. to the Monroe Doc
trine, of which it is an extension
What would the Monroe Doctrine
amount to if we were to serve notice
that while we have pious wish that
Europe shall respect and preserve
the territorial integrity and political
independence" of the Central and
South American nations we must
have it distinctly understood that we
are under no obligation to back I'D
our pious wish by force?
AS it was, Theodore Roosevelt
o9Ince told Germany to keep out Of
Venezuela or he would use our war
ships, and previously Grover Clevc-
and told England essentially the
same thing. In both cases we were
saved the use of force because we
we're known to be willing if need be
70 use it. And for century since
Monroe we have never had to fire a
shot just because it was known we
we're ready to do so.
In 1915 Theodore Roosevelt in
series of articles in the New York
Times favoring a League of Nations
the fact that unless there
vas force in the background the
League would have it'la effect in
wny Ha coil. Hrlo,o