The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-01-06
THE HITCHCOCK RESOLUTION.

l1E H1IIHIOCk RESOLUIlON.
Whether it is due to unnatural politics
or natural pettifoggyness of mind, we do
not know, but certainly nothing could be
more deplorable than Senator Lodges
stand against the Hitchcock resolution, en-
dorsing President Wilson, peace note.
Because certain passages indicate that
the interest of the United States in the
question is not wholly academic, Senator
Lodge, of Massachusetts, thinks that en-
dorsement would project congress into
European politics This thought is a trihe
obscure, but let it pass. II am willing to
have my vote interpretated as having
helped one side or the other he saws, ut
tring a conviction that should have uniuer-
sal approval; but as President Wilson init
mated, it was not of the beligerents that
he was thinking, but of this country; he
was concerned not that Europe should have
peace, but lest the United States have war:
and to students able to pierce the depths of
diplomacy, it is as clear as daylight that the
United States has been on the edge Of the
red silver within the past month.
No need to split hairs: the president, in
possession of the German proposals, con-
fdentially outlined for his good offices, be
fore replying to the allies Forthcoming note.
must know that he has the American people
back of him. That knowledge can not be
conveyed by the Gallinger resolution. which
provides that the senate of the United
States in the interests of humanity and civ
1llzat1on expresses the sincere hope that
peace between the warning nations of
Europe may be consummated at an early
day, but only by the Hitchcock resolution,
which provides that the senate approves
and strongly indorses the action taken by
the president in sending the diplomatic
notes of December Is to the nations now
engaged IN war suggesting and recon-
intending that those nations state the terms
upon which peace might be discussed"
Severer condemnation than the faint
praise of the former could hardly be
imagined
Ii it is thought in foreign chancelleries
that president Wilson's, action does not
plumb with popular approval, the Pickering
peace candle will gulp out entirely, before
the United States, like hospitable host
has been able to light the world to its
resting place
i The allies reply to Germany, if anything
was even more encouraging than might
have been anticipated Tt rejects made
in-Germany peace, but that was to be ex
pected. The allies have given vent to a lo1
OF nonsense, such as talk about guarantee.
for the future" so visionary as to fall auto
maticalyy into TIE bunk basket; but that
too, was to be expected, as also the gloom,
| head-wagging of Bernstorff. But the poin
t to remember is that the rejection was NOR,
cpen-hearted than even Lloyd Geoge's pro
nouncement, and the allies lreply to th,
United States should be more inviting still
: AS Voltaire said about God: "If Their
was no God it would be necessary to inven
one SO even if the right of mediation an,
friendly suggestion were not establishe,
s already, it would be necessary to establish
the principle now, for as President Wilso
has pointed OUT, the position of neutal /
/ becoming intolerable to the United States
: Germany's peace proposal threw a we
blanket over the submarine blaze which wa
especially threatening in the early part 3
d December Is Senator Lodge irving t
pull it off?