New-York tribune., 1919-08-24
Americanizing the Covenant

Good friends of The Tribune, believers
In the merits of rebuke, have reproached
it for not bludgeoning the covenant, On
the other hand, equally good friends, be-
cause it ventured on constructive criti-
cism and rejected the Presidents sign
here demand, have reproaehed 1t AS
bitterly partisan 1t is not always posi-
bic for a newspaper with lasge family
to please all members
The truth is The Tribune has en-
deavored, within the limits Of human
fraity, to be non bipartisan. 1t holds
partisanship should stop at the national
frontiers. The settlement Of the worlds
greatest war raised issues too momentous
to be confused by partisan prejudices.
Moreover, the whole world has earnestly
hoped that the wars experience would
develop something to improve interna-
tional relations and to secure against
recurrence Of gigantic tragedy. So no
appeals to party have appeared in these
columns, despite the insistent efforts of
the Presidents friends to foment par
tisanship by unwarranted accusations.
SO far as concerns the party to which
relations, no mandate has come up from
it. Its leaders and its rank and file have
been alike unconstrained as they reached
in good conscience their individual con-
clusions. The other party organization
has been conceded the monopoly of
%o I,
who did not obey orders. Republican
opinion has developed naturally, without
the intrusion of caucus, or convention or
organization pressure.
1t is then a remarkable thing that the
party's representatives in Washington,
consisting Of men who differ Oh many
subjects and speak for widely distributed
constituencies, have effected close union
N behalf of the essential thing-namely
that the covenant must be Americanized
before it is ratified.
Not straggler is reported. The Presi-
dent had d hundred advantages in the
debate, particularly the one that impes
herd in crisis to follow leader even
though he travels away from water IN
stead of toward it. Yet, as the discussion
has gone on, he has been forced from one
position to another, and now clings pre-
cariously to this last stellung. He is
willing to accept reservations provided
they are whispered, not spoken out loud
for the world to hear them.
But this coming together, although
nil
IS not strange to those who reflect on the
history of the organization displaying it,
The Republican party, when viewed his
torically, IS seen to have sprung from
the meeting Of three great streams of
influence. First, the nationalism of the
old federalism OF Washington and Hamil-
ton; next the more or less romantic
patrlotlsm of the Clay Wings, who had
passionate sympathy for freedom every
where combined with a determination 10
make America strong to maintain hon.
own freedom, and finally. the moral
ldealsm which is associated with the
name OF Abraham Lincoln. A political
organization SO sired was not likelv to
minimize nationality by running after 3
vague nternationalism OF to consent to
play a role that limits the freedom Of
other men by compelling them to bend to
the Will of the strong
But though the vo.cc OF the hea,t was
controlling, the head has not been denied
place at the council table. 1t was con-
celvable that what was practically good
IN the bo
pad avoided If the instrument were
Americanized. To this end. in spite of
The many incitations to be imnatient
constructive leadership at WASHINGTON
has iabored Slowly it has worked ont
formula which protects American urin
cipies and at the same time throws no
impeachment in the way of better inter
national organization. SO harmony comes
OF Itself. America is to be mistress in
her own house, and correlatively all other
peoples are to be mistresses in their sev-
eral houses
10 is curious circumstance that the
Senate has struggled to save the under
lying idea OF the fourteen points against
the attacks of its putative champion.
Yet that idea has been the lodestar of
the Senate. BY insisting that no group
OF nations may lay down the law to us
SIMPLY because. they have power in their
hands, it obviously says no other nation
is to be overawed by might, Here is an
epltome of the fourteen points.
The Senate is not a popular body. 1t
Is not single or dramatic 1t is customary
to say that it is not what it used to be.
fet it is doubtful il the Senate has ever