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Show THE CITIZEN 6 There are many sensible men among us who, ever since the League of Nations controversy arose, have believed that the United States could serve humanity best by maintaining its historic isolation. They argued that we could impress our ideals upon the world better by remaining aloof from the league than by joining it. They may have blundered. Only a prophet can foretell whether, if we join the league, we shall transform Europe or Europe will transform us. have acted unwisely, but if it acted judiciously then the provisions in the covenant for an automatic boycott are foolish. It is something of a shock to find the league unprepared to deal adequately with its first problem. It is an additional shock to see another governing body usurp the powers of the league. If this is to be a precedent may we not be justified in fearing that, whenever the nations think it convenient, they will simply ignore their league and take whatever action they please. The league would have inspired more confidence if it had proceeded promptly to grapple with the Russian question and adopt a course of action. Instead, it timidly surrendered its first problem to an illegal governing body and thus created an impression throughout the world that it was incapable of achieving the objects for which it was organized. , THE UNITANIA PARTY as his friends indicate, Mr. Herbert Hoover is determined to be candidate for President, no matter what ticket he runs on, we take pleasure in proposing that the Unitania party be formed. We called attention, last week, to propaganda looking to the unification of Great Britain and the United States, for certain purposes, under tjj. name of Unitania. Naturally a confederation cannot be effected before the next election. And, of course, the issue ought to be submitted at the polls. Therefore, we suggest that Mr. Hoover run on the ticket of a third party to be known as the Unitania party. As a supporter of the undotted i and the uncrossed t of the sacred covenant, Mr. Hoover is a Wilsonian and might expect to receive the nomination from the Democratic party. Unfortunately for his chances, however, Mr. Bryan, armed with a snickersnee, carved the Democratic party in twain. This in itself should impel Mr. Hoover to be quick about forming the Unitania party, for if he acts promptly he can absorb that section of the Democratic party which is not owned by Mr. Bryan. As for the other section, that has been-MrBryans personal property since the days when he paid for it with free silver promises. It is a vested interest and nobody should venture to contest his right to it. Having formed the Unitania party Mr. Hoover can then make a logical appeal to all who love the idea of making the United States a decorated tail to the British kite. His whole history fits him to become the candidate of such a party. When he was twenty-thre- e years of age he wen to Australia to engage in mining activities. In 1899 he moved to China and became the chief engineer of the Chinese Imperial Bureau of Mines. In that capacity he explored the interior of China and soon associated himself with private companies formed to exploit mining properties. His business interests took him to London, where he resided for years, acting as director in a number of British corporations engaged in Asiatic development. A list of the concerns in which he owns shares is said to read like the London Stock Exchange list. For twenty years Mr. Hoover was an expatriate and only the exigencies of war caused him to return to his native land. All his business training has been under foreign influence, principally British. Could a more fitting candidate be found for a party seeking to unite Great Britain and the United States? From every point of view he is the one man to undo the silly work of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and join together again dissevered members.) f the Anglo-Saxo- n empire. In his modest way Mr. Hoover once suggested that the Prince of Wales be chosen President of the United States, but the same result could be accomplished by electing the humble servant of the Prince of IF, v THE LEAGUE OF PERILS 1 such a loyal British subject as Viscount Grey urges his WHEN to accept the American reservations to the peace treaty one has an uneasy feeling that perhaps the reservations are not strong enough. One can appreciate the fears expressed by Senator Borah and by the millions who agree with him that the League of Nations is in itself a menace to the United States. These reservations about which we have been fighting so much, says the senator, will amount to nothing when we are once in the league. They do not protect the United States. And he adds: The third proposition is that without the United States, that is, without her wealth to underwrite the economic chaos to Europe and her man power to police its territory, the league will amount to noth- - . in g. Taken at their face value the Lodge reservations sufficiently protect the United States. If we see to it that the reservations are enforced American interests will be safeguarded, but it would be folly to deny that a peril to free government, to our institutions and to our ideals, always would exist. Perhaps not even the most patriotic vigilance would preserve to us our heritage of liberty and fraternity. The basic conflict between Europe and the United States is one of system and ideals. In Europe there are toryism, junkerism, imperialism, militarism and a vague understanding of the rights of the common man. Over against this, battling with it to the death, are Bolshevism and anarchy. Our our side of the ocean republican ideals and institutions have triumphed. Our republic has become a mighty brotherhood of free people. There is very little toryism left in the hearts of Americans, although their minds are sometimes obscured by the appeals of British imperialism and militarism. The refrain of the white mans burden has become a sirens song luring us on to support a naval and military domination of the world. Whether imperialism or Bolshevism wins in Europe our Republic will be imperiled. Either our ideals of a Republic will change the face of Europe or, if we accept membership in the League of Nations, we shall be insensibly influenced by the European struggle. Even now we are being called upon to use our wealth and our man power to uphold imperialism against Bolshevism in a conflict that may soon take on the proportions of the war with Germany. True, imperialism is less of a menace to the best in civilization than is Bolshevism, but it is not an ideal for which Americans will wish to fight. If imperialism wins, if the iron rod of militarism continues to hold weaker peoples in subjection to a few of the strong races, the world will have been made unsafe for our republics ideals and institutions. By means of reservations we seek to associate ourselves with imperialistic nations and yet escape the contamination of toryism and militarism. The vital question for us at this juncture is : Can it be done? Can we join the league and yet keep aloof from the wars to uphold European domination over the weak and inferior races ? Will we not, as matter of course, be drawn into the wars; will not our troops be used all over the globe to suppress the revolutions of peoples clamoring for freedom? Wales. Mr. Hoover is rich, talented, tirelessly energetic, a great administrator and perfectly acceptable to the ruling families of Great Britain. An Idaho man afflicted with the sleeping sickness rallies each day long enough to take about two quarts of liquid nourishment. There is only one kind of liquid nourishment that an Idaho man will rally to. . Carpentier wears the Medaillc Militaire and also the Croix De Guerre. Dempsey is planning to confer other decorations upon him. . Some mean man suggests that Admiral Sims is under fire for the first time. The Newberry evidence seems to be principally slush. |