Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-08
THE GREAT AMERICAN SNOB.
AND U. S. PEACE POLICIES
Misunderstanding of This Country's
Aims Unusually Conspicuous Among
Unfinished Americans"

~ try. But unqueStionably it is a
mental habit that recently has been re-
vealng disagreeable aspects in the
| United States.
Among snobs nothing, whether it be
an accent of speech or pan of trousers
or a theory of art or politics, is consid-
cred fiji unless it happens to be imported.
| The snob of old could be conveniently
| disregarded. He--or she, for women
| snobs are the most hopeless-usually
| evolved as an overdressed globe trotter
with a habit of servility in the presence
of foreigners.
! The snob in America has expanded his
| field. He has become critic of govern
| ment since the war ended and voice IN
the affairs Of nations. He is doing
| great deal to confuse public opinion in
| time when clear thinking is funda-
mental obligation of decent citizenship.
| 1t is questionable whether streak of
| the snob may not be largely responsible
| for the incredible abuse which certain
erudite gentlemen who like to pose as
publicists have been heapng upon the
President. Certainly they would not
think of speaking in a similar tone of
Premier Lloyd George or NJ. Clemen-
ceau. But as critics of our foreign policy
in the present crisis they are less
| astounding in view of the present att-
tude of mind of the rank and file OF
Unfinished Americans.
"What?" cries your snob. "Say un-
| kind things about our dear France?
| Question the motives Of our brave
Allies? America was saved by the
British fleet! What man can be so un-
gracious as to utter an ungenerous word
about England?'
There are few men in journalism or
| in politics who, being essentially pro-
| American in their utterances and their
noint of view, have not had outraged in
| miries such as these hurled at them fire.
quenty.
So long as valor and sacrifice are hon
ored and so long as men esteem limit
less courage and devotion no one IN
America will ever say unkind things or
question the motives of the French and
the British and the other peoples who
fought with us.
But definitions should be clear at a
| time like this Most Americans when
thew think affectionately of France think
of the French of the Somme and ths
Marne, of the patient millions in the
background. Similarly they think of
the British of the North Sea and the
fqhtinp armies; of the men and women
who stayed at home and carried on
through years of unutterabie stress with
an unconquerable spirit.
But your snob isn't discriminating. If
he were he wouldn't be a snob. And he
is the last man alive able to realize that
the financial and imperialistic cliques
who have done most to confuse the
affairs of the Paris conference and in
wife the criticism of honest observers are
seldom representative of the masses who
won the war.
If there is oneI duty which presses
more heavily than any other upon Mr.
Wilson and the American delegates and
every American at home whose desire is
TO see a permanent peace, it is to recog-
nize> invariably the point at which the
!
doned and sinister intrigue begins al
Paris. Snobs are usually ignorant OF
history and its lessons. They do not
know for example, that the TRADES OF
criticism aimed at the Americans ir
Paris and read with avidity through
cable dispatches to this country emanate
as usual thing from a newspaper
frankly edited in the interests of grouI
which wishes to upset the republic anc
establish king in Paris.
: Nor can they be aware that the one
newspaper in London which has mos
consistently opposed the American peac,
,, nolicy is the cherished organ of thu
. sleety toryism that is doing its utmos
blindly to run the British empire on tn
rocks. They read these criticisms ant
, take new heart.
. The incurable >snob, who persists il
, drawing rooms and smokers, and nov
: and then in journalism and letters ant
: politics in the United States, will Away
find one unforgivable fault in Mr.. Viii
son as a statesman and diplomatist. TIL
!, President happens to be an American.
|. snobdom in America endured it
{ greatest agony when the President frs
sailed for Paris. There were editor
/ without number who blushed violentl
/ in print for their naive President an
a their native land and prayed Gin ink
n that we should not be madetto appear to
Il ridiculous by stubborn novice with
headlong diplomatic method.
what would they say in England?
What would the French think?
7 Here indeed was lamentable side q
: traditional America!