Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-13
THE AVERAGE NET PAID CIRcUI.A-
THE MONTH OF JuLY. isi7. WAS si.sis.
RATTLESNAKE POLICIES IN
PACIFISM GARB


TT is not worth while to denounce men
= such as La Toilette They represent a
phase of public opinion. Popularity is a
prize worth striving for. and with all the
intelligence of the nation massed in advo-
cacy of the great measure OF self-defense
which requires the shattering of old ideals
end the breaking of worshiDed prece-
dents, II Is worth the while of a dema-
gogue to capitalize the hesitancy of peo-
pie who have not yet grasped the true
Significance OF the world concict and en-
deavor. as their spokesman, to impreg-
nate our foreign policy with pusillanimity
and buy a temporary peace by sacrificing
our manhood, our independence, our self
respect and all the institutions of free
dom to which we have given allegiance
life and under which we have thivcd
amazingly. But advocates of cowardice
permanently held power.
Unless the blessed qualities OF mercy
and forgiveness dominate human hearts
after peace is declared this world will he
q fearful place In which to live But it
Is neither mercy nor forgiveness that
La Toilette advocates. He paints his
policy in such colors. bat what he really
pleads for, SO far az &c ,nnnt is con-
oerned is verdict o. - sttuotive "in.
sanity, wherefore no liability" Let
there be, he says, "a dlsavowal of any
advantages, either in the way of inIcmn!-
ties. territorial acquisitions, commercial
privileges or economic p,erogatives ~
which one nation shall strengthen its
power abroad at the expense of another
nation, as wholly incompatible = ith the
establishment of a durable peace In the
world" That is the ultimate purpose Of
the Allies, within broal limit. BIT the
very items which La Toilette anathema-
tizes comprise in themselves exactly
. what Germany meant by her place in
the SUM-
Berlin specifically and wantonly
broke what the Senator AYERS is the one
great commandment OF international law
and policy, but he, instead of inhicting
punishment, would pat the offender on
the back, kiss him and urge that he do
not repeat his offense. Yet IL there be
no penalty in this case. what will deter
another mad nation from a repetition of
the crime? Would there be morality in
the United States paying an indemnity
for German grimes in Belgium? That is
exactly what La Toilette proposes as a
cooperative plan. If peace alone were
the object of the Allies they could have
had ii in 1914 They did not want to
pawn their souls to get it.
The true object of the war, as La Fol-
Iette knows, is I, crush tha; state of mind
""iN" 10 hho"H as inllitaflSHl, 10 excise
forever from the human intellect the
dream that organiz force is superior TO
right, that the mailed fist can do no
wrong Until that spirit is crushed. de.
mocracy is not safe anywhere in the
world, America is not safe, no woman is
safe, no religion is safe, no child is safe |
and the sword of Damocles hangs over
every people In the world. II is not
enough for Germany to retire temporarily
from invaded territory, with or without
payment of indemnity. 1t is not right |
Tor us to try to pass the burden Of crush.
ns this militarism to the next generation.
We have the system tottering and we
must give it the death blow If shall |
stand no nonsense from America after
the war" boasted the Kaiser TO Mr..
Gerard. After the war the Kaiser must
,e so impotent that what he proposes to
stand or not to stand will be Of no con
sequence.
In the meantime. can democracy stand
or such statesmanship as La Toilette
represents?