Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-03
CERTAIN SENATOR'S

CERTAIN uncertain Senators complain
~ bitterly that they are kept in iRno'
rance" by the President.
Ignorance is n matter of selfdetermina.
tion. Every citizen of these States is at
full liberty to decide for himself just how
ignorant he wishes to he, even Senator
Borah, who cries that he feels "a deep
interest in everything that is transpiring at
Versailles" viii some one inform the
Senator just where the Quai d'Orsay is?
Now we have a genuine sympathy with
Senators in their present perpleXing situ-
alton. No one regrets moro than We that
the Senate is not represented among our
Paris commisslo toner's. And we understand
that all these lroots and catcals from
Washington. this feverish and spteful de-
nunciation of everything our representa-
tives are fighting for abroad. are only the
lively breast-beating of irritated statesmen
trying to keep themselves warm until the
facts arrive.
But every one does not understand this.
Cabled accounts of senatorial utterances
have caused amazement and chagrin in
foreign capitals. Honest republicanlsm has
been sorely hurt by some superheated
vaporings.
Tho Capitol is surmounted by n large
and empty dome, but 1t is not necessary
for Senators to make that a personal
symbol
1t is impossible. at the present stage of
the Paris parleys, that our knowledge Of
the conferences doings should be more
than the substance of things hoped for,
| the evidence of things not seen. Much that
we shed blood for Is in fair way to be
accomplished. Why the roaring and rant
| ing, the sounding brass and t!nkling Gym
| bal? Shortly one Cometh to report on the
negotiations. Why not wait until ne gets
| here before endangering senatorial blood
| vessels? We plead for more far-sighted
and judicial patience. But we know that
We plead in vain. One does not gather figs
of thistles.
Alas! Senator Borah has given the game
away IF the Saviour of Mankind would
revisit the earth and declare for league
Of nations, would be opposed to it,"
Since the Senator has seen fit to call in
Scripture, let us remind him of the parable
of the man who sent out his servants &c
gather in guests for a wedding. One guest
arrived in his workaday attire. And hc
saith unto him, Friend, chow earnest thou
in hither not having a wedding garment
And he was speeches."
| 1t is hard to imagine Senator Boraf
"speechless," but the point is that for thc
discussion of the league Of nations ant
the vast new problems and rearrangementi
Of humanity, a wedding garment" is nee
essary--a garment of charity, hopefulness
liberal thinking and practical idealism.
The world today can be made a new
world. Our hand Is on the plow and thi
is no time for f1nching.
Because we esteem the Senate more thar
it esteems itself, because we are saddenet
to see it debase itself in the eyes of pru
dent men, we ask it not to set its fac
bndly against the sunrise Great wind
are blowing, and it will be hard walking
against the wind.
Some Senator'S have taken up with
certain glee the wretched jibe of an at
miral likening the league of nations to
quilting party. Perhaps they would ais
speak of the fellowship of Christ and Hi
apostles as sewing circle"