Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-07
BY JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES.

WASHINGTON, March IL The
;dea upon which President Wilson
vests his last appeal for the repudia-
ion of American advantage in the
Panama Canal and the basis upon
which he POUNDS his only possible
hone of success, are the reputed for
eign complications upon which he
cl9ins England's friendly co-opera-
ton is Indispensable to our welfare
and safety, and which cooperation
Tngland is only willing to hasten in
rrflIrn for the abject surrender of our
cherished rights and interests in the
greatest waterway in the world
AT the best, it is almost universally
regarded as humiliating argument
and makes a sorry picture OF our
country before the nations.
Nothing could so emphasize and
proclaim the lamentable failure of our
foreign policy as the Presidents per-
sonal appearance in the advocacy of
such a program of reputation as his
representatives are pressing upon the
fwo houses of Congress.
Policy Utterly Discredited.
With the most crystal fairness to
the President and without necessary
imputation upon the integrity of his
matured Judgment, common honesty
will concede what the record will fully
disclose that the foreign policy of the
administration lis utterly discredited
by the present status of International
affairs.
The policy of "watchful waiting
has been given a thorough and eX-
haustive trial.
At this moment that policy stands
almost universally discredited at home
and almost as universally condemned
among the foreign nations to whose
Judgment Mr.. Wilson so pathetically
appealed in his dramatic speech.
The fact is as to the President that
diplomacy was never his forte. He
is a scholar and historian and has
demonstrated that he is also no shall
low economist. But his entire diplo-
matte record has been under fire and
criticism from the first.
Bryan No Assistance.
Unfortunately he has had no prop
or stay in the gentleman whom he
has called to the State Department
as his guide and counselor. There is
an impression as wide as the conti-
nent and as deep as the sea, that in
the field of diplomacy Mr.. Bryan, of
Nebraska. is an utter and conspicu-
Gus failure. He was never built for
diplomacy. He has never mastered
il in his personal affairs and is utter
ly uneauipped for it in his official
International relations.
Before Spring. Rice and Jusserand
and Baron Chinda, past masters in
diplomacy, who can write rings
around Mr.. Bryan every day, the
American Secretary of State feels
like a schoolboy and acts the part.
It is not strange. therefore, that in
this crisis OF an international affair."
We wholly miss the firm grasp and
that bold forward movement in ma
tonal affairs which has distinguished
and dignified the past history of our
country.
Japan Needed Firm Policy.
\ iirm Just, but fearless, hand with
Japan last summer and a statesman
Ike policy Of preparedness would
have eliminated Japan from our pres
ent complications, in which English
selhshness is fiourishing famously
In Mexico it has been worse.
Through the last half of the Taft adj
mlnistration and in the earlier
months of the Wilson administration,
MI Hearst Numbered necessarily his
logical demand for a firm hand with
Mexico, while the Mexicaif question
was young and prestige high in the
Aztec republic.
If the counsel had been taken at
that time, 10000 men, or 5000 massed
upon the border or marched into
Northern Mexican territory with an
armed demand for order, would have
established constitutional govern
hent over the riots of the bandits
ana robbers who at that time thor