The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-30
z T COME BACK HOME

We are about to engage in an enterprise that will forever
settle the destiny Of the American nation.
The peace conference at Versailles is more than a session
called together to parcel out little states and princpaltes among
the clamorous nations Of Europe, or to Tx the intrinsic cost 10
the German for his depredations.
1t is more than the parceling out Of territory for debts
incurred in, the past. The settlement of past accounts is rela-
lively easy, but the alLabsorbing question, so far as the United
States is concerned, is not the fixing of geographical boundaries,
but the effect upon our future political intercourse with Euro
pean nations.
: George Washington was regarded in his day as a man Of
wisdom. He possessed the faculty Of prophetic vision. For l42
years we have lived in security under the policy OF the creator
of the republic.
1t is not Inappropriate at this time to quote from his mes
sage a warning which through all the years has been needed, and
which, it is unnecessary to state, has been the chief influence
in steering the ship of state clear of the shoals and threatening
disasters.
We quote his language:
fellow 4s o.s.ns s' i, i"' Jealous. yH y T n 1si ssPs t:9 1ssS; 8 9 S s99 %.%:;i ES3 t. s1 ss4:y; since &c
s sss a1S 3 ss ssS ,s se e e $ %is% g. ' y :! Ss 81 ss g s g s%s;, SSa' s:,5 31$ %. - a@ ."'
S per- 50 good t& = fs& S' R h%o ' u; "a ' '9o' Engagement let "'" De fulfilled with
Again:
gs@ Witch B' as s.,. %s1iS ' fSd TT'' % Be o Sns Ssssci s fs~ asas sS"' 'S%:FS4.' Il shS ns s.s' S:
SSs1r T ssi IL !: ' P 5"s SISSsr SHf sSSsn III ss'1 sa t e:sa q sS G SF re- ST1::nsGi..}SHfss::' 81 q
. A little farther on he says;
, ,2 ! S : Hs 5pi:sa . 4! $Sss e. 6 SSsss?s :, !: e. };; S;:!S !. ; :; ;ii. 4 ); 4. ;:S '$s : E ~ S. ': 4: );
'on'. HS ! csr t 9S"P Po SE 'S 10 steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion OF
u. $ $:5:sss5S:: r. S: :S'y' y I: asP ; ssEi;' ss! BY to '' ''aSas s;''' aaHi%%!! ' On : 9 '';S'i;
With no other chart to guide us we must, whether we
would or not, accept the proven principles u past
We have passed successfully through the pitfalls that beset
a nation engaged in a like enterprise with other nations.
President Wilson has kept clear in the minds Of the people
our status by his %unvarying expression: "The United States
and the nations with which it is associated in the conduct Of
the war"
AT times there have been sentimental reasons why some
might have wished that we were both in name and in fact a
part of the allies. But there were practical reasons which over
weighed those Of sentiment, and left Our status unimpaired and
devoid of "entanglng alliances" with other nations.
The United States should press its trade and commercial
relations to the utmost. We have built ships that will give us
access to the ports of the world, both for the products of this
country and the products Of other countries that are needed in
our domestic affairs. A relation of this kind with the other
countries of the world should be fostered and encouraged. We
are in a position to press our commercial advantage, and it
should be done to the limit.
But there is no advantage from political alliance. We went
into the war with a definite purpose. That purpose has been
achieved, except in its details. Those are being worked out.
England must have political alliance to protect her possessions,
and she must have a fleet second to none in the world to make
her isolated and vulnerable situation secure.
We face none Of the problems of European nations, We arc
too far away to be concerned with the internal affairs of the
little nations that will forever go on, as they have in the past,
with their chickering's and their conflicts and intigues.
Let US turn away from the inviting field of European poll,
tics, with its excitement and romance, and content ourselves
with the less spectacular but more practical advice that Washing
ton gave.