The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-11
1t Does Not Answer.


THE sun is compelled to say this
morning, with genuine regret, that
President WILSON'S beautifully writ
ten address to the Senate yesterday
does not enable us to record the slight
est improvement or change In his
method of advocating the outright
abandonment of American policy and
the partial surrender of American in
dependence to carry out his ideals of
service to humanity by participation
in IAN all but universal adjustment
of the worlds affairs" The phrase
is his own.
We note with pleasure the absence
from the Presidents remarks of that
tone of defiance, Of uncompromising
demand for acquiescence in his per-
sonal views, which has characterized
some of his previous utterances. He
spoke earnestly but courteously, and
he was calmly and courteously heard.
The entire address was an appeal
rather than a challenge. But 1t was
the speech which might have been ex-
pected from an impassioned revival
list, and not from a statesman and
practical legislator discussing an
American question in the American
Capitol.
1t does not fill the bill. 1t does not
even meet the Specifications filed yes
terday morning by our neighbor the
Times, which in the most friendly
way asked the President to engage
in "a frank and candid discussion and
Interpretation of the Treaty's meaning
and the Councils purpose" From be-
ginning to end there was no discus
sion, no Interpretation In the sense
required by the grave and reasonable
objections raised against the unre-
served acceptance OF the covenant.
Where there should have been expla-
nation there is naught but exhorta-
ton. Where there should have been
convincing argument there is fine
rhetoric. Where the address should
have been analytic 1t is broadly Apoca-
lyptic. It is an emotional. idealistic
harangue, not a specific reply to the
questions that are In the minds of SO
many Of US. From beginning to end
the readsr will meet nothing but dis
appointment in his search for some
thing new and specific and more salts
factory to patriotic intelligence than
are the gcneralities to which we have
become accustomed.
We have had quite enough OF these
generalities. The time had come for
something else. Instead Of that some
thing else the President has chosen to
q give the Senate the same old nebulous
thing. He said much about our duty
AS by himself individually discerned
but there is not one dlscoverable
Is sentence or word that throws light
on the practical and constitutional OBJ
jcctions TO his proposals; that makes
any clearer, for instance, the work
ings Of the Council In relation to
Americas future veal or woe. Those
who honestly differ with the President
on the question of the republics duty
TO itself and to the world, those who
hesitate about ntifying the porten-
tous contract MS 1t now stands, we're
hoping that the great occasion might
produce the condensation Of at least
II few drops Of clear liquid from the
apor surrounding his habItual out
glvings on the subject. They have
hoped in vain, this time at least. They
get little more from Mr.. WILSON than
the well known "volces in the mir and
visions on the horizon"
All that the President said Of the
necessity of the League in the present
form of his proposal could have been
said with equal force and fervor of
the former scheme OF The Hague
treaties and tribunal as a guarantee