Milford chronicle., 1921-02-18
FRIENDSHIP, NOT PUPILAGE

It is not true, as averred by some
that a large part of the antipathy to
the league of nations scheme is due
to continued resentment of the treat
ment accorded the American colon
les by Great Britain prior to the Rev
olution. 1t is not true that the people
of the United States are opposed to
the league because of any feeling ad-
verse to the people or the govern
ment of Great Britain. No such feel
ing exists. The American people are
sufficiently familiar with history to
know that the attitude of England to-
ward her American colonies determ1n-
ed by the King, George III, foreign
er on the British throne, and that the
people of England were so much in
sympathy with the colonies that the
King was compelled to hire Hessians
in order to secure enough fighting men
to fill his army in America. The hope
that the colonies would gain their lib
erty was openly expressed by men in
high position in the British govern
ment.
But even if the oppressive policies
of the mother country had been sup
ported by the British people, it would
still not be true that Americans are
today governing themselves in ac-
cordance with old animosities. There
is only the kindliest feeling in Am
erica toward Great Britain, so far as
the relations of the two peoples and
nations are concerned.
But this does not mean that out of
of spirit the American
people intend to surrender their ma
tiOnal independence to a league in
which Great Britain and her depend
encies would have a dominating infu-
ence. 1t does not mean that the Am
erican people are ready to bind them
selves to raise money and armies to
fight the battles of Europe. It does
not mean that we are ready to merge
our life with the life of other peoples !
who have a different form of govern
ment, different social and economic |
ideals, different standards of interna-
tiOnal morals. We propose to be |
to all; subservient to none.
OF course there are some things the |
British government does that a great |
many Americans do not like. We have
thought that Great Brit
ain is little too grasping-a fault
we condemn in our individual friends
as we do in friendly nations. We felt
1 good deal of sympathy for the Beers
)ut in South Africa when they were
n difficulty with the British Empire.
A lot of Americans are in sympathy
With Ireland in the present contro-
yersy, even though few can see a per-
ect solution for the difficulty. All
hese, however, are minor and indi-
'1dual matters that do not concern us
is nation and which do not in any
legree influence our views relative to
he merits of the question of a league
# nations.
We do not hate England; we do not
lespise her; we do not fear her; we
merely desire to remain Independent
nd to shape our own international ]
'olicies from time to time in accord
nee with our own sense of Justice
nd wisdom as circumstances may
rise. We do not propose to form in
taste an alliance that we might re-
ret at our leisure. We do not pro- ]
ose to bind ourselves to a document
hat we might later, wish to denounce
S a scrap of paper-an act which is ]
on the part of the United
tates. We propose to act with delib-
ratiOn-not Historically. We are de-
that the agreements by Y
7hich we are bound shall be the acts {
f our own free wills and not forced
pom us by would-be masters. We !
re anxious to promote world peace, l
OF world war. We expect to retain {
LmOng the nations of the earth that
aparate and equal station won for t
S by courage and sacrifice and suffer- t
lg of ancestors whose heroism is un-
in the annals of time. This c
-e do with no feeling of jealousy or e
itterness or animosity but with con- f
dence in our own high purposes and
aspect for our national dignity and
ltegrity.