Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-19
Surrender Pride TO SAGE
Peace and Principle.

L HULE LL/EU l. EULEpIC
1@IE practical course and the right course
for friends of the Peace Treaty and the
League of Nations to pursue at this crit
ics: juncture is that indicated by Senator
Hitchcock. while Democrats said he,
"have refused to vote for the destructive res
eryations which Senator Lodge proposes, they
are willing to confer with and compromise
with Republicans on any reasonable basis"
The true test for compromise is whether in
the main it will promote or retard the cause
involved whether it will save or destroy the
principles at stake. Moral wisdom as we'll
as keen sagacity speaks in the proverb, Half
a loaf is better than none''-provided the half
is genuine. But if the nation and the world
come asking for bread and are given stone,
that is not true compromise; that is mere
politics of the kind which prejudice and
spleen at their worst resort to. If most of
the Senators were at heart of the Hiram
Johnson bent there would be scant hope
or none for the bread Of real peace. The only
compromise then possible fol- friends Of the
Treaty and the Covenant would amount to
surrender; and they could far better afford
to see their cause perish in honor than sur
vive a wretched travesty and betrayal.
Happily however, most of the Senators
are not opposed to the great essentials of the
compact, including the League Covenant
Among the eighty who have gone on record
as favoring it's ratification in one form or
another, there are enough votes to effect
what Senator Hitchcock means by "a reason
able compromise" If they will but forget
craftsmanship for a season and dedicate their
efforts wholly to the nations service. The
mild reservationists among the Republi-
cans are numerous enough to save the situa-
ton if they will join the Democrats in work.
ing out constructive agreement. Hitherto
the mi d reservationsts" have erred in
camping with those who really were seeking
destructive changes in the Treaty-changes
such as Senator Lodge proposed, first in the
form of amendments and those having been
defeated, next under the guise of 'reserva-
tons" But present opportunities are more
important than past mistakes, and Americas
welfare OF far greater moment than any mans
pride OF opinion. Let the friends of the
Ifeatys basic principles, the broad minded be-
levers in League Of Nstions get together
for the sake of their common convictions
and for the sake of humanity's imperiled
interests. Let there be liberal yielding on
matters which involve merely the letter of the
pact in order that it's spirit may be made
ma11esC III blessings to mankind. Let
III 7AO NC d iSdSOudDl6 compromise in order
tnat there may be an honorable and abiding
peace.
Enough they do not think reservations
necessary" says Senator Hitchcock, speaking
Tor the majority of the Democrats. 'thev will
concur in agreeing 10 some; for safeguarding
the Monroe Doctrine, for example: for maxi
ing 1t clear that domestic conditions are NOT
within the jurisdiction of the League: that
we can be involved in war only by act of
GonGress' and that If the United States shall
declde TO withdraw fro IN the League it alone
shall be judge of whether it's obligations are
such that it can properly do so' These and
kindred points which have given concern tn
some senators appear to others to be safe
guarded amply by the plainest implication If
not the. very text of the Treaty But if the
oottlns OF an or the crossing of or the
underscor1ng of sentence here and there
Will win for the Treaty support which other
wise would be lost then by all the hlithe
eoos OF common sense let's gather round thn
INK morn and prove again that the men is
nlghter than the sword
Assuredly, this fruitful comnromiso vii,
never De II the groups and persons at issue
can 40 no better than sit gIowering at ono
announcer ike SO many Tybalts and Benyolios
Dltlng their thumbs 1t will never he unInoe
1alse dignity and false pride are flung to the
winds. But what is any mans dignity wbat
IS any mans pride If it stand between
War-racked world and the healing wings of
peace In the face of such problems as now
oVerloom our own and other lands we dare
not stand pickering about forms and whims
or personal predictions. With rumblings of
deep d1squiet heard throughout Europe and
with American affairs sorely unsettled. we
dare not look upon this Treaty of Peace as
a anefe pawn in game of politics. The one
question deserving thought is, not which par
ty or which leader is going to put the other
in hole" but which is going to put the
country on basis Of stable, prosperous and
honorable peace.
The times are all too serious to waste
day in mere party jockeyng. The record
which the future will read and by which the
claims of parties and politicians will be as
sessed will have little or nothing to saw
about the strategies of the present situation.
but it will show indelibIy who were the
friends and who the foes of the Treaty, who
stood for and who against the cause of in
ternational justice and cooperation. Between
the real foes and the true friends of the
great covenant, there can be no compromise:
but assuredly there can be a compromise be-
tween it's divided friends-and one alto
gether reasonable and honorable. To the
working out of such agreement all the
talent and all the patriotism of the Senate
should be dedicated.
ss7 Aaa ....j1l. s.s4a "a.