The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-05

lNNI many times DefOro leIt
I~u America which finds an
teE4al answer in Europe quite dif-
8EyRl ferent from what could be
&S realized at home. What,
after all. is America doing
in Europe. in France, at the present
time? What is her role as 1t actually
reveals itself on the spot?
The answer is as simple as 1t is
surprising. At the present hour.
America is playing greater role at
Paris, possesses more influence ana
encounters less opposition. politically
speaking, at least than did Bismarck
at the Congress of Berlin. No nation,
not even Russia. was SO powerful at
Vienna a century ago.
This astonishing development-and
It Is astonishing for a nation which In
all but some few years OF Its exist
ence has steadily avoided intermix-
ture in European affairs-is in the
main the result of accident. rather
than of design. Not even President
Wilson could have fully forseen when
he left Washington exactly what place
America was to hold, not alone In the
Peace Conference, but henceforth In
the world.
U. s. Still Powerful.
Among the great powers which have
fought Germany, America alone
emerges fresh, with her resources in
creased rather than diminished.
The physical losses of Franc haye
been stupendous, British material and
human sacrifices have been enormous
and the blow to British morale has
been perhaps even greater. 1t was al
most inevitable that when America
came to Europe her immediate and
far more, her eventual strength, should
give her a dominating position. And
1t has happened.
America 10 Unselfish.
America is seeking to impress no
selfish policy upon the world. The
truest criticism of the American pur'
pose is that her idealism Is at times
blind and on occasion perilous to heI
friends and Of advantage to the enemy
Yet were Americas policy and pur
poses selfish, there would still be lack
ing force or energy to oppose them
and am thinking OF political rather
than economic policies.
In curiously complex degree
France, Britain and Italy have ac
cepted the fact that the war has not
only made America a world power
UuL tuc 6iCdICot VI WOAAu pO"CAos oAAN
the people of Europe perhaps ever
more than their statesmen have &C
cepted American leadership. No heat
of any European government, save or
one or two quesuOns Of life and deatf
would venture to take issue with the
United States, and I doubt IL ever
then, he would survive the shock
Shoulder Responsibility.
But the consequences OF our new
and unexpected position must not es
cape the American people. The ma
tions which have almost tacitly ac
cepted the new American influence
have also equally tacitly agreed tina
with power must go responsibility. l
we insist upon putting new ideas ant
new principles into practice, we mus
take our share Of the burdens which
from Constantinople to the Orang'
River and from the Atlantic to thu
Persian Gulf confront the peace max
ers.
The familiar American idea Is tina
as soon as possible after our job i
done. we should recall our troops ant
return to our old isolation.v Thi
view is held by not few American
in Paris, but it is not the European
idea, nor do l believe the thing viii
be possible.
Rather there are multiplying ev!
dences that when we broke with ou
past to enter this war we broke wit
1t not for year, not for the period Q
the war, but forever.
America Powerful.
It is essential to recognize tina
through the logic Of events Americ
will have more to do with the shapin
- bo troofv of than ouv nfho
nation. Mr. Wilson has accepted 70
his country a mission which perhap
the nation itself could not have e!
capped in any event. But he has don
more than accept. He has embrace
opportunity. The Treaty of Paris wi
be an American document, to the e!
tent which no American not now
Europe yet suspects.
But at every point this. documer
will combine practical obligation
with experimental idealism. We ma
see our influence, powerfully secon
ed by the best and most enlightene
minds in Europe. erect League {
Nations, establish new states, an
free enslaved nations; but to preser,
this structure will be a task onl
slightly perceived at home as yet, 8
though daily becoming clearer here.
viii BE Fact.
Whatever form it takes in word
the League of Nations will be In ia
for its opening years, perhaps fore
er, an alliance between Great Britai
France and the United States.
which other nations will join ther
selves, doubtless. but against whit
n there will be a new German intrigu
and not impossibly another German
tack.
For It Is essential for Americans
recognize another fact which dali
grows clearer in Europe. Germany
again beginning the process Of reinte
JContInued On Page Five.1