The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-09
Suppose!
This Is a brief essay In hypothesis
and nothing more than that.


and nothing more than that.
The George Washington, capable
! ship for return as well as for out
Z ward adventure, Is summoned on a
hurry order. The rainbow at Paris
does not span very wide or shine
very bright. Observers there and In
washington aud everywhere else are
divided in opinion as to whether the
President Is "bluffing."
We do not think him a "bluffer."
Those who have most conscientiously
studied the workings Of his remark
able mind and observed the demon
STATIONS of his remarkable will In
various stations Of educational and
political usefulness will be the slow
est to attribute to him any incapacity
to do the unexpected thing, or to do
It, on occasion, with a promptness Of
decision and a swlftness Of perform
ance seldom equalled In the contents
of personal character.
Suppose that President WILSON, con-
fronted with conditions and not theo-
ries among the representatives OF the
nations associated with him in con-
ference, has been forced to the reluc-
tant conclusion that neither the Four
teen Points originally by himself enun-
icated nor the constitution and cove
nant Of the league by him originally
conceived and promoted now offer
what even the most optimistic actuary
would reckon as a life probability
e worth considering.
Suppose that he Is reluctantly con-
WINGED, against his honest hopes and
enthusiastic aspirations, that the ma
jority of the United States Senators
mean what they say, and that the
American people mean what they are
now saying with increasing volume
and intensity of determination.
Suppose that he, idealist gifted with
discernment of public sentiment
which makes him one Of the most
practical and courageous politicians
the country has ever known, perceives
the opportunity for bold move which
shall take the responsibility for fall
ure off his own shoulders and put 1t
on the contending great friendly Pow
ers and the squabbling little tribal
republics.
Suppose that he discerns the psy-
chologic and strategic moment for ex-
hiblt!ng his troublesome associates In
the role of cutters of the Fourteen
Points and the covenant and the con-
stitution of the impossible league: he
himself being no gutter except in the
merely physical and geographical
sense of departure on the George
Wa shington.
Suppose that he does, in fact, re
turn to his constitutional post of duty
and to the exercise of the ordinary
functions of a President of the United
States, as a statesman who has done
all man could do for the worlds re
generation and has failed through nc
fault of his own, but simply on &C
count of ma jor force against him.
Suppose that he brings back no GOV
enant or constitution of any league
engaging us to police the other hemi
sphere and admitting Europe to par
ticlpation in the policing of our owl
hemisphere.
Suppose that he comes back to con
clude treaties of peace with the Gov
ernments with which we are at war
that Is, in the normal way and witt
the advice and consent Of the United
States Senate.
Would not President WILSON, un
der these circumstances, be hailed Al
the nations preserver from illimitabl,
misfortune? Would he not thu
achieve, by one short, swift. oppor
tune transatlantic passage Of tn,
George Washington, a measure o
popularity and a wealth Of gratitude
unknown in all his previous politl
cal experience?
We repeat that this Is not prophecy
but mere suppositlon.