Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-09
center for all OF it's dry neishbors to the
South and West, it could not be expected to
take kindly to candidate whose views on
the traffic has been brought into question
America Gives Much and Takes Nothing

America Gives Much and Takes Nothing
e ROM a nation which prided itself and de-
pended for its safety on it's isolation, the
United States has become almost overnight a
predominating factor in world affairs. 1t is
folly to pirate OF the wisdom or the unwisdom
OF its course, for it had no option In honor
Its destiny was fixed for 1t by a Providence
inscrutable, and to have held back when
civilization faced humiliation would have
been to act the part of the skulker and cow
ard. Brarely it trod the path laid out for 1t,
and the treaty handed TO Germany will stand
as an enduring monument to the spirit Of
sacrifice. denial and unself1sh highminded
ness which has actuated it from the very day
on which it drew the sword.
Throughout the treaty there are constantly
recurring and eloquent reminders Of Ameri
cas- attitude. When the peace conference
assembled it was realized. that 1t must be
give-andtake affair, that no nation or no
man, even had he wished to do SO, could
dominate it absolutely to selfish ends, that
each must yield on some points, and that the
finished document could not be wholly salts
factory to all. That was Americas attitude,
and in that light the treaty must be viewed
and judged. But America has placed the
emphasis on the give and ignored the
take" 1t gave Of the flower of its young
manhood and the material means OF its peo-
pie. and it takes nothing-abs olutely nothing.
ielIilOIS, COuCeSSlOnS, money, go 10 us as
sociates in the war; but America fought only
for principle Standing by that principle.
1t has asked and wants no reward beyond
the national consciousness OF having con-
tributed to world peace and world justice.
America gives 10 the world the league OF
nations. that rock on which the future rests
When its associates would have imposed
victor's peace to be maintained by the old
discredited system Of alliances, America
10 10 nd rhap
Its greatest gift 10 civilization. 1t gives new
ideas as to what constitutes international JUS
tice. new ideas as to upright, straightforward
diplomacy, and fresh ideals of the brother
hood of man. 1t gives to little nations and
weak peoples the right to live and develop
Tree from domination and aggression; it gives
to labor everywhere its deserved recognition
and puts 1t on the high plane toward which
it has been struggling for centuries; it gives
It's aid toward the undoing Of old wrongs
committed by militant nations and makes
similar future crimes impossible. To the
enemy 1t gives the right to live. When
others would have crushed Germany to death
II held out restraining hand and, while ap-
proving the harsh terms. it preserved for it
the right to survive as a national entity, and
the chance. with thrift. energy and good will,
to work out from under it's crushing burden
and once more stand erect. Thus the seeds OF
future war by dissatisfied. conquered peo-
pie were swept away.
America. while lavishing its gifts to
humanity and taking nothing, has yielded
somewhat as 1t was known it must do 1t
receded in the controversy with Japan, and
it gave ground to Italy over Fiume. There
was no recession from principle, but it was
better to yield on these and other incidental
points than 10 endanger the whole structure.
In so far as it can, and still live up to it's
obligations as member OF the comfy of
nations. America has kept free from entangle-
ments with European affairs. Critics OF the
administration may find fault; the treaty, OF
course. Is not perfect, but it is difficult to
believe that Americans a people will not
give Americas work at the peace conference
their approval, and that, as they dispassion-
ately view Its accomplishments for society at
large, their hearts will not pulse with a lust
pride because they are Americans.