Evening star., 1944-10-07
Letters to The Star
Senator Ball Quoted in Behalf
of Federal Union Ideal

DSAAoscA Ian ~0OtSA AH DSiuAl
of Federal Union Ideal
To the Editor Of The Star:
James 9. Berryman's cartoon, showing
Mr.. Willkie and Senator Ball In the
clouds while the President and Gov.
Dewey have their feet on the ground, |"
calls for comment. was present at the
Federal Union Convention in Chicago,
sitting only few feet from Senator
Ball when he delivered his speech. That
speech was made the evening before
the Senator's statement concerning the
inadequacy of Gov. Dewey's foreign
policy plans.
Certainly, The Star does not wish
to be unfair. In fairness, therefore, to
Senator Ball, let us examine his posi-
tion in the light Of history. Quoting
from the Senator's truly fine speech OF
September 28, 1914: The great problem
for the l3 States was how to
preserve their independence and
liberty against the twin dangers of out
side aggression and internal dissension.
The situation called for heroic measures,
The Congress and the constitutional con-
vention had the courage and vision to
subordinate their minor differences,
overridetheir fears and unite on a bold
solution. The heroic measures were
taken, and our Federal Union was born.
No one can tell how many decades our
national development might have been
delayed, or whether it might have been
stopped altogether, had the political
leadership OF that day yielded to the
Tears and doubts then freely expressed
regarding this new and radical step.
Today the United Nations face a
similar great crisis. With the absolute
certainty that third world war will
mean the end OF both individual liberty
and democratic government, the United
Nations must find some means of guard
ing against the twin dangers of outside
aggression and internal dissension
which might in the future bring about
such war. The problem is not new,
and In the past the world has made
many attempts to solve it. 1t has tried
diplomacy, power politics and alliances.
After the First World War, loose and
weak confederation, the League of Ma
tions, was tried. All have failed.
although, to be sure. the League was
handicapped from the beginning by the
absence of the United States. New and
stronger measures are needed.
Federal Union. under the leader
ship of Clarence STREET., proposes a solu-
tlon as bold and radical as that reached
by our founding fathers in 1787-namely
that the peoples OF the United Ma
tions, particularly those with similar
political institutions and backgrounds.
establish new government, on the
world level with the limited powers nee
essary to guard against these two dan
gers OF outside aggression and internal
olssension. Federal Union would build
on two great principles which have
served America well during the past 1877
years-the sovereignty OF the people
over the governments created to serve
them, and the principle that a govern
ment OF laws is the best means of max
ing secure the liberty of the people.
Federal Union would effectively apply
the great spiritual principle of the
brotherhood of man."
What are the alternatives to Fed
eral Union? Unitary government
treaties, alliances and leagues. Unitary
government we can rule out because it
leaves the nations of the world no
nome rule. Speaking Tor writing) of the
others In The Federalist No. is. Alex
ander Hamilton observed: In the earlv
part OF the present century there was
an epidemical rage in Europe for this
species OF compacts, from which the
politicians Of the times fondN hoped
Tor benefits which were never realized
With a view to establishing the equili-
brium Of power and the peace of that
part OF the world, all the resources Of
negotiations were exhausted. and triple
and quadruple alliances were formed:
but they were scarcely formed before
they were broken, giving an instructive
but aft1icting lesson to mankind. how
little dependence is to be placed on
treaties. which have no other sanction
than the obligations of good faith. and
which oppose general considerations of
peace and justice to the impulse of
any immediate interest or passion"
AT the Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia, 1877. James Madison. dis
cussing leagues and opposing another
league as the basis for the Union of
the States, said: why then adhere
to system which is proved to be so
remarkably defective?"
In his Farewell Address, President
George Washington said: ITO the eff.
f1cacy and permanency of your Union.
Government for the whole is indis-
pensable. No alliances, however strict
between the parts can be an ADEQUATE
substitute. They must inevitably ex-
perience the infractions and interrupt
tlons which all alliances in all times
have experienced"
l think Senator Ball has his feet
very solidly on the ground
JOHN F. SCHMIDT.
Capt, U. S. A.