New-York tribune., 1919-03-17
The Old Lineup Again

The Old Lineup Again
When the war came, to men Of vision
and adequate information three things
were clear:
1. That the issue was simple-whether
pacific, democratic ideas were to rule the
future or rulership was to pass to auto
cratic ideas-as such necessarily mill
taristic and imperialstic.
2. That concerning such an issue, with
the autocratic ideal backed by great
power there could be no compromise;
that there was no substitute for mill
tary decision.
3. That, the war being what it was, the
peace must be one to cut off all the heads
of the autocratic hydra. The war was
thus one on war, and its motto was
"Never again!"
After great labors and sacrifices Nos.
l and may be regarded as established,
and we are now engaged in an effort to
realize No. 3. Here is the significance Of
the debate over league of nations propo-
sails. Other things are in the way of at
tainment, but the great objective may
not be reached. The result is doubtful,
and there is need for every friend of the
human race highly to resolve once more
that the victory on the battlefield shall
not be lost at the peace table.
Unhappily, grave reason for apprehen-
sion exists. On the calendar of the peace
conference awaiting action and strongly
pushed is the draft of plan which will
not safeguard peace=a plan that seems
more likely to promote war than to pre-
serve peace. In form and substance the
project is rewrite, with few addi-
tions, Of the Hague league, which is still
legally alive and which proved a CHASTITY
failure in July, 1914.
No one seriously pretends that this
imitation league will secure the end
sought The President himself is quoted
as admitting it is weak-says it does not
represent what he wanted. Clemenceau
says the same thing; so does Lloyd
George; so does Orlando. The greatest
claim for it is that it may do some good
But if there is basis for anxiety there
is also foundation for hope. 1t will be
recalled how many times during the last
five years the outlook has been dark,
with the forces Of unrighteousness seem.
ingly winning. Remember how long it
took to open our eyes to a perception Of
simple issues. German dust clouds OBJ
scured vision. 1t was said the war was
between two rival groups of imperialists,
both of which were wrong, and did not
and could not affect America. 1t took
nearly three years of unremitting effort
to educate the President into knowledge
that democracy everywhere was in dan
ger.
Then came the trying period when,
first on one excuse and then another,
arguments in favor of negotiated peace
caught the blinded and the credulous. 1t
was openly declared it would not do for
either side to win in the field-that a
stalemate was desirable. The President
started two or three public mediation
campaigns, and doubtless many more pri-
vate ones.
Yet in the end the truth made it's way.
We have right to expect that if the ad-
vocates of real things as opposed to bogus
things keep firm in their faith and do not
relax their efforts ultimately they will
again behold an acceptance of their
views.
A striking element in the present dis
cussion is that the lineup is once more
about as it has been. Those who early
saw the war and it's issues and quickly
realized what must be done if civilization
were not to witness great tragedy are
Tor the greater part on one side; on the
otner side are those who, from mental
gullIbility or lack Of moral perception or
weakness of will, did not sympathize in
any active way with the Allies and who
opposed or sought to put off our entry.
scratch those who resist all proposals to
revise and to strengthen the covenant. or
10 get substitute for it, and you will
commonly uncover one who was indiffer-
cnt to the war