The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-21
NO PARTISANSHIP
OVER BIG WORLD
ISSUES IS PLEA
Victor Mcknight, Fresh From
Europe, Urges Americans to
Play Great Part Still in
Present Mighty Drama.
BY VICTOR

"
An American. returning home at this
time from a stay in England and
France, finds himself looking at HIS
country through new eyes. He has
a different perspective a clearer vision.
after coming To understand the spirit
Of our crusaders overseas, and putting
himself into sympathetic touch with
the people OF France and England.
whose lives have been affected far more
by the war than have ours.
The returning American, whether
soldier of civilian, must feel a love
Of country. a pride in his nation and
his flag, that he never knew before
he left. At the same time, II he is
given to thinking, he must experience
also a great desire that his country
shall not lose the unselfish spirit, of
the past two years, and descend to
sordld ways.
Typical American Welcome.
How fine it is, when our liner
steamed up New York bay, to have our
returning soldiers greeted by a small
boat carrying a band, and welfare
workers with cigarets, and apples, and
daily newspapers to toss aboard TO the
d~oughboysl II was a typical American
welcome, all heartiness and good fellow
snip. The weather was crisp and clear,
and the sun shQne brightly, just as it
does so much in our new world winter,
In contrast to old world gloom.
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 re-
lief n welfare work among the poor
and suffering that had set up new
standards and ideals of A"mericanism;
third. a peace conference in Paris that
vas 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 we're we returning In Amer
lea? To n young, vigorous, rich, and
powerful country; powerful while most
other nationes are exhausted by debt
and loss Of man power, but yet with
ar element of curious weakness. l am
| going to mention later some of the
good things about our country that
one most appreciates after an absence,
but first | am going to speak frankly
Of our chief national fault.
Coming home, we found a furious
family quarrel going on about our ears
Many Of the persons who two or three
years ago were anxious to have 0ur
country throw off restraints and take
up arms for England, France and Bel
GUM we're now fiercely assailing the
president for wishing to make any kind
Of alliance with those self-same coun-
tries to preserve the worlds peace.
The same newspapers, the same poll
across the seas to fight were tearing
passion to tatters at the prospect of
our forgetting W~ashington's parting
counsel,
Like Compasses.
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
Il railroad track or some large body
OF metal, and its accuracy is gone. The
needle will point in Utmost n direc-
ton except north.
Bring VA near a presidential cam
paign, -nrJ let Some partisan issue arise
and the magnetic needle Of fairness
becomes inaccurate. We seem to lose
our sense OF proportion and our con.
efderatidns of national duty and fai
play; some even lose their self-con
troll.
DO not misunderstood me to say tina
the present issue, involving our par
In the worlds future welfare, Is a part,
affair. For the Poindexters, Lodges ant
Shefmans who wish to follow a pole!
of isolation, there are the Reeds, Yard
amans and Hardwicks on the Demo
: cratic side who are just as vehement.
engaged in fighting anew the battle 0
Bunker Hill. .
The fact that a new campaign |
brewing is the underlying cause OF tn
dismal spectacle we have been witness
ing. All the more honor, in the cir
cumstances, to men like Taft and Bur
ton, and to Republican newspapers tina
they nave refused to allow their part,
to be committed to the policy OF aban
doning our allies; such newspapers a
the Philadelphia Ledger and the In
duirer. the Boston Herald, and tn
Springfield Republican.
When we drew our declaration q
independence We ptofessed a decen
respect for the opinions of mankind
on sadly, some Of our best-advertise
politicians make a football Of tn
league Of nations project, on whio
hang the hopes OF mankind. II the
succeed, they will have spitcd Mr.. wa
son and evened UP some old scores
what matters It whether count
shall have lost the faith and trust an
admiration Of the world?
Americans Are Generous.
Philip Gibbs, recognized as n {
the greatest Of the English war CORE
spondents because of qualities OF hear
as well rs Of mind, is now paying on
country a visit, He likes us, and ha
written some very pleasant Trims
about us. Like other high-type Britonl
he win not speak In criticism OF III
but II he would, he could tell us no
we fail 10 understand the internAtiont
situation through lack Of knowledg