New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-23

Resembles harden's Talk
Mr.. Wilson had been discussing until
then the general subject of a league
for peace-he was careful never TO say
"leaguc to enforce peace" and had
stated that If tho peace presently to
be made ia to endure il must he a
peace made secure by the organized
major force Of mankind"
Victory. Mr.. Wilson said. would mean
peace resting upon quicksand. This
part Of his address called forth Keen
est attention at the time Of its deliv-
cry and provoked considerable COM
ment afterward. II was compared with
yesterdays speech Of Macmillan Har
den in Germany. 1t was pointed out
that Mr.. Harden and the President
we're very close together in their
thoughts, and that Mr.. Harden appar-
emily was speaking with the approval
Of official Germany.
The idea of 4 drawn war which Mr..
Wilson carried all through his speech
especially pleased the German sym
pathizers here. 10 is an idea that they
have been trying to impress on the
American people through the newspa
pers ever since the first German peace
note was received.
Germany Ready to Stop
Germany realizes that at this stage
Of the war she is at the food tide OF
conquest. She cannot get mOre-she
may lose so why not stop now? A well
known official put 10 In the form Of an
epgram tonight while discussing this
phase Of the situation. "The Allies"
he said, shave required two and half
years to get nowhere. How much will
they require TO get somewhere"
The rights 90 a free sea and the limi-
.atiOn Of naval ornaments as discussed
in the speech all that was relished in
German circles but did not appear 20
atisfy the Entente. Everybody has had
tlc same right TO the sea in time Of
7eace, it was pointed out. Suppose
cavies were abolished altogether. an
o5her suggested Then which nation
would control the seas? The answer IL
evident. That nation potentially mos.
powerful in the possession Of liners
and merchantmen upon which guns
could be quickly mounted. What nation
is that? Great Britain.
Use of Senate Assailed
But it was almost, i'm The last words
Of the speech that the opposition in tho
Senate found the declaration which
they say. the American people will re-
volt at as soon as they understand il
and all that il implies The President
was leading up to his epgrammatic
proposal that the Monroe Doctrine be
extended so that IL would include all
the nations of the world. lie said;
"And in holding out the expectation
that the people and government of the
United States will join the other civ
.lized nations of the world in puarau-
teeing the permanence of peace upon
such terms as ! have named | speak
with The greater holiness and conf
dence, because it is clear TO every man
who can think that there is in this
promise no breach in either our tradi-
lions or our policy as a nation, but a
fuli,lment, rather, Of all that we have
professed or striven for
In selecting the Senate as the forum
Cor his address, the President, accord
ing TO his opponents, committed a sub
lime improperly. He asked the Senate
TO do nothing. There is nothing for it
% DO.
Lining Up for Fight
ID is extremely unlikely that any
member Of the majority will provoke
such a discussion as that in the Lodge
Borah-Lewis debate by proposing
resolution Of approval. Mr.. Wilson
wanted TO make an important speech
and he sought a place which of itself
would attract attention and lend special
emphasis.
IL had never been done since Wash
irgton's and Adems's days. Addressing
The joint body in the House of Repre-
sontntivcs chamber has become COM
monplace. SO he chose the Senate in
which 70 fire the first gun in a cam
paign which. as The Tribune pointed
out this morning, is likely to be of s1-
preme interest TO the country in very
short time.
The President has decided to do his
utmost to commit the country to a
world alliance. The opposition already
is beginning TO rally. or men now ia
office probably the first to be heard
from will be Senator Lodge and Sen
ator Borah. Theodore Roosevelt has
indicated where ne stands, and may be
.nuptad IN Cor sfronC gupporf