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Show George Washington and Thos. Jefferson Their Views on The League of Nations While the question Is under consideration con-sideration whether the league of nations na-tions treaty should be ratified by the United States Senate It Is Interesting to note the attitude toward alliances with European countries of two of the early presidents of the United States Oeorgo Washington and Thomas efferson whoso theory i.f government In many respects wus the prototype of the two prevailing political parties of todny. Whllo George Washington and Thomas Jefferson differed on many points of governmental policy they entertained the same views on the ; subject of alliances with Kuropoan ; count lies. In his farewell address to the people, peo-ple, of the United States, President Washington said: "Against the Inslduous vilen of foreign influence tho Jealousy of a free people ought to bo constantly nwake, since history and exper.tjiicc prove that foielgn Influence Is one of the most baneful foes of republican republi-can government) Tho great rule cf conduct for us In regard to foreign nations Is In extending our commercial commer-cial relations to have with them a; little political connection as possible. Kurope has a set of primary Interest-) which to us have none or a very re-inolo re-inolo relation. Therefore It must f-unwise f-unwise In us to Implicate ourselves by artificial ties In the ordinary vls-sltudes vls-sltudes of her politics or tho ordinary ordin-ary combinations and solllslons of her friendship or enmities. AVOID ALLIANCES SAID WASHINGTON "Why forego the advantage of so peculiar a situation (as ours) $hy quit our own stand upon foreign ground? Why, by Interweaving our destlng with that of any part of Eur-pe, Eur-pe, entangle our peace and prosperity prosper-ity In the tolls of European ambition rivalry. Interest or caprice? "tl Is our truo policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any poi-tlon poi-tlon of tho foreign worlld." The altitude which the United Stales should tuke toward European countries waa more forcibly and more frequently et pressed by Thomas Thom-as Jefforson In a letter to Elbrld?o Gary he says: "i am, for free commerce with alt nations, political connection with none. I am not for. linking ourselves by new treaties with the quarrels o! Europe, or entering that field o! slaughter to preserve their balance, or Joining In their confederacy of kings to war gainst the principles or liberty." In a letter to E. Carrlngton he says: "It Is a' maxim with us, and I think if a wise one, not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of Europe" To. T. LomaB, unrtpr date of March 1 7 9 9 , Jefferson writes; "I sincerely Join you In abjuring all political .connection with every foreign power and though I cordially cordial-ly wish well io tho progress of liberty lib-erty In all nations anil would forever It tho weight of our coluntenance, yet they are not to be touched without contamination with their other bad plinclplos." In a letter to Edward Uutledgc in 3707 Jefforson says: "As to ever) thing excep commerce, com-merce, wo ought to dlvoice ourselvs from all foielgn alliances. This system sys-tem will require time, temper nnd occasional sacrifice of Interest iu.! how far nil of these will be ours, our children may see, but wo shnll not." SHUN KUKOIT.'S IM.S, 3 KWKHSON ADVISED To John Taylor In 1798 ho tent these words: . Q "Better keep together as we are, hands oft from Europe as oon as re can, and front all attachments to any portions of it ' In n letter to George I.ognn under date of March, 1S01. Jefferson writes: "To take part In European confll'la would bo to diveit our energies from Cieatlon to destiuctlon. It ought to be the very first object of our pursuit pur-suit to have nothing to do with European Eur-opean "interests and politics. Let them be free 01 slaves at will; navigators navi-gators or agriculturists; swallowed Into one government or divided Into a thousand, we have nuthlng to fear from them In tui fuim." I In July, 1 804, Jcfierson said In a messago to l'hlllp Mazcl: j "It Is against our system to em-harass em-harass oursehes with tteatles or to enlanglo ourselves at nil with the affairs af-fairs of Europe. "We belleNi- that with tint Ions, as with Individuals, dealings . may bo can led on n nihautageously, perhaps per-haps more no, while their continuance continu-ance depends on oluntniy good treat nient as If fixed by a contract, w i when It becomes In Jul Ions to either, Is mndo by foired construction to mean what suits them and becomes n cause of war Instead of a bond of peace." HONEST KltlKMlSIHI C.I,I,KI) Sl'I'I'ICIKXT President Jefferson said In his first lnauguial address: "Honest friendship with nil nations, entangling alliances with none, 1 deem one of the essential pilnciples of our government nnd, consequently, consequent-ly, ono which ought to shape Its administration." ad-ministration." In n lotter to Thos l'alne, wrl n In 1801, ho counsels: "Determined ns we are to avoid If possible wasting the energies of our people In war nnd destruction, we should avoid Implicating ourselves with the powers of Europe, even In support of principles which we mean to pursue. -They have so many other oth-er Intercstsldiffcient from ours that we must avoid being cntuugled with them." To Thomas I.elpar, In 3815, he writes: " "The lesi,we have- 16 do with the amities. o&rtniultles of- Europe,- the better." " "Ci In a letter to J. Corns in J320, ho urges: "All entanglements with that qiiin-ter qiiin-ter of the globe (Europe) should t.o avoided if we mean that peace and Justice shall be the polar star of the Amerlucu societies. The fuudamen;al principle of our government is never to entangle us with tho broils of Eur ope." A letter to George I.ognn, wrlt-.e.i In 1801 by Jefferson, contained thl advice: "I Join you In a sense of the n'ies slty of returning freedom to the ocean, oc-ean, but I doubt with you whi'lur tho United Stutcs ought to Join In an armed confederacy for that purpose, pur-pose, or rather, I am satisfied they ought not." In a letter to President Monro In 1820, long before Jefferson had '.- tired to the quietude of prtvnto I 'i, and with opportunity of reflection u the plan nnd operation of our constitutional con-stitutional form of government, he writes: "1 have nevur deemed it fundamental funda-mental for the United States never .to take actlo pnit In the qunriels ot Europe; their political Interests are entiiely distinct fiom ours, their mu-. mu-. tual Jealousies, their balance of power, their complicated alliances, their forms nnd principles of government gov-ernment niu all foreign to us; they mt nations of eternal war." To Duron con Humbolt Jeffeisom says In December ISirt: "European nations constitute a separate division of the globe; their treaties make them part of n distinct dis-tinct system; they have a set Inteiests of their own in which It Is our business busi-ness noer to engage out selves. "Amotion hits n hemisphere to Itself; It-self; It nuut have Its separate system sys-tem of Inteiests which must not bo ' subordinated to those of Kutnpe." ALLIANCES NEEDLESS SAID WILSON HIMSELF In nn addiess nt Washington May C, 1914, 1'rosldcul Wilson spoko In tctms that should appeal to eeiy patriotic American. He said: "America should llvo her own life. Washington saw It when he wioto his farewell addiess. It was not moio-ly moio-ly because of passing and transient circumstances that Washington said that we must keep from entangling alliances; It was hecauso ho saw that no country had yet set Its face In the same dliectlon which America lind set Iter face. Wo cannot form nllU'.-ces nllU'.-ces with those who aro not going our way. We need not, and wo sl.ould not, form alliances with any nuflnui in the world. Those who are light, those who hold their honor higher thnn their advantage, do not need alliances." |