The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-11

Let me tell you briefly what we left
behind us: First, an American army
that had won the admiration and graf
itude of our allies by courage on the
field of battle and modesty and good
behavior off the field; second, an
American overseas organization for
relief and welfare work among the
poor and suffering that had set up new
standards and ideals Of Americanism;
third, peace conference in Paris that
was honestly striving to safeguard all
nations against greedy aggression;
fourth, whole peoples that had come
to trust our country and to depend
upon it to help Danish war.
To what were we returning in
America? To a young, vigorous, rich.
and powerful country; powerful while
most other nations are exhausted by
debt and loss of man power, but yet
with an element of curious weakness.
am going to mention later some of
the good things about our country that
one most appreciates after an abb
sence, but first / am going to speak
frankly of our chief national fault.
Coming home, we found furious
family quarrel going on about our
ears. Many of the persons who two
or three years ago were anxious to
have our country throw off restraints
and take up arms for England, France
and Belgium were now fiercely assail.
ing the president for wishing to make
any kind OF alliance with those self
same countries to preserve the worlds
peace. The same newspapers, the
same politicians, that insisted on our
going across the seas to fight, were
tearing passion to tatters at the pros
pect of our forgetting Washington's
parting counsel.
Too many of us are like the COM
pass; that is the explanation of our
weakness. The compass needle points
north most of the time, but approach
railroad track or some large body
Of metal, and it's accuracy is gone.
The needle will point in almost any
direction except north.
Bring US near presidential cam
paign, or let some partisan issue arise,
and the magnetic needle of fairness
becomes inaccurate. We seem to
lose our sense Of proportion and our
considerations of national duty and
fair play; some even lose their self
control.
Do not misunderstood me to say
that the present issue, involving our
part in the worlds future welfare, is
party affair. For the Poindexters,
Lodges and Shermans who wish us to
follow policy of isolation, there are
the Reeds, Vardamans and Hardwicks
on the Democratic side who are just
as vehemently engaged in fighting
anew the battle of Bunker Hill.
The fact that a new campaign Is
brewing is the underlying cause of the
dismal spectacle we have been wit
Messing All the more honor. in the
circumstances, to men like Taft and
Burton, and to Republican newspapers
that have refused to allow their party
to be committed to the policy OF
abandoning our allies; such news
papers as the Philadelphia Ledger
and the Inquirer, the Boston Herald,
and the Springfield Republican.
When we drew our declaration of
independence we professed a decent
respect for tn opinions of mankind.
Now. while England and France look
on sadly, some of our bestp dvertised
politicians make q football of the
League of Nations project, on which
hang the hopes of mankind. If they
succeed, they will have spited Mr.
Wilson and evened up some old
scores; what matters it whether our
country shall have lost the faith and
trust and admiration of the world?
Philip Gibbs. recognized as one of
the greatest of the English war cor
res pondents. beca use of qualities OF
heart as we'll as of mind, is now pay
ing our country visit. He likes us,