New-York tribune., 1919-05-20
A Time for Candor

the covenant. To pitch the debate so is
to inject non-pertlnent spirit of parti-
sanship and to degrade great subject
by efforts to force an artificial lineup.
The friends of the Administration, of
course, have not been the only of
Tenders. Republican Senators and news
papers have similarly exhibited unlove-
liness of soul in distrusting President
Wilson, even though he brought gifts.
But, whether the chief fault lodges with
eulogists of the Administration or it's
critics, it is fit that the final phase
of the debate be marked by. an improve
ment in candor.
The issue is not partisan one--is
not one on which one party has rec
ord differentiating it from the other
party. 1t relates to foreign relations,
and it is generally agreed by members
of all parties that politics should stop
at national frontiers
If any presumption may be drawn
from the past and the alternatives are
aloofness and participation in world
affairs the elements successfully Fed
eralist, Whig and Republican would
seem more likely to favor a league than
the elements which have constituted
the other party. The scheme breathes
the genius of Hamilton rather than of
Jefferson-is more in accord with the
idea that this nation may do what other
nations may do and function under
no restricted charter An accusation
brought by Democrats against the Presi-
dent when he first came into politics was
that his writings showed Federalist
mind.
But in acts touching international
relations there has been little differ
ence in the two parties. Both have
been policy-less to about the same de
gree. If Cleveland hauled down the
flag in Hawaii a Republican Senate for
bade it to go up in Santo Domingo. In
Mexico President Wilson has struggled
against feeling born of the course
of Democratic predecessor
AS the covenant issue is not a parti-
san one, so in its broad aspects it is not
even national one. This country has
no clearly marked external policy ex-
cept as to tAe Monroe Doctrine. AS
Republican may support the covenant
CT Democrat may oppose it, so a
citizen may be for or against it with
out throwing suspicion on his Amer
icanism.
Under these conditions it should be
possible to look at the facts without
confusing appeals to prejudice. Would
this assume responsibilities with re-
spect to maintaining the peace by force
and participate, as it then must, in
preliminary action germane thereto?
In other words, do our people want
to enter a league Of any kind? Some
say they know. But the people have
never been asked the direct question
The support of the league idea is strong,
would seem to preponderate, but there
is no certainty. Both sets of disputants
should remember this, and concede
there are strong arguments on both
sides
If desire to adhere to some kind
of a league exists, is this particular
league Of enough value to justify the
surrender of liberty Of action? The
Irloune's reading Of the text has led
1t to criticise it as weak 1t has seemed
to US that the only possible genuine
league Of peace is one based in fact
on perpetuation Of the coalition that
won the war. If mutual trust could
rot be established between these ma
tions how was it possible to trust ma
tons more under suspicion? Hence.
these columns have deprecated everv-
thing making for dscord among the
Allies az destructive of the moral
foundations Of permanent peace-have
labored TO magnify harmony.
But the Land Of Maybe lacks clearly
marked roads. Possibly the President
at heart also wanted Il fve-pojnted
ieague---a star which would shine with
~ own hght~-but could not get it, and
accepted the covenant, although as
powerless as any organization must be
which requires unanimous vote. as
something that might grow an ingtitu-
uoh OF value AS TO this the public
mas not been taken into confidence. So
peace leaguers founder as they judge
Tor Themselves whether the covenant
is better than nothing, or offers fair
price for such universal guarantee
as II contained in Article x.
In the domain Of surmise it is not
easy to he certais one is on the true
path. So, as partisanship is out of