Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-01
:.on AND naturally the Democrats will
Jump at the chance to arrogate to them
seNes victory which will really be a
,esut OF the combined common Sense of

certain Republican spokesmen are, of
course, sufficiently shrewd to foresee the
dangers ahead. From several of the
original "round-robiners" adroit indorse-
ing.
1he changes" declares Selden p.
spencer, of Missouri, "are vital and COM
mehdable.' This looks as though at least
one eraser will be called for when those
nasty signatures are again brought to
Isn'' Inc repentance is of various
Su'pes. That of Senator Penrose does
not openly come under that category, and
yet IL Is perfectly possible to interpret
his comment as presaging a revision of
MS views when the critical hour strikes.
he believes in Closely scrutinizing
the covenant" A good sentiment, well
| pronounced. 81 have always" he ex-
pams, been in favor of any covenant or
treaty that would diminish the chance of
war; adding that apparently some of
the objections originally advanced to the
league as first presented, such as the
protection of the Monroe Doctrine, have
been covered in the revised document"
The tone of these remarks hardly sug-
gests that of the angry outburst which
greeted Mr.. Wilson's first return from
Europe.
Meanwhile the irreconcilables continue
beating their black wings. Those of
Henry Cabot Lodge flap ferociously and
yet, all things considered, they do not at
tempt much of flight. Ardently Italian
in his outspoken sympathy with Or
andos lmperialistic ambitions, he never
theless would sulkily pause when it comes
to pronouncing upon the new covenant
He and Senator Curtis have urged Re-
pubIicans to bottle up their thunders
temporarily. If he can hold all his fellow
"round-robiners" in line, in imminent
jeopardy Of their political future, this
move may foreshadow terrific blast of
venom If it does, the most perilous
breach which ever rent his party will be
visible, for Mr.. Lodge does not represent
the attitude of the majority of Republi-
cans upon this issue, which is so OBJ
vlOusIy OF nonpartisan essential quality.
Republican Philadelphia, for instance,
is overwhelmingly in favor of the society
Of nations, as the EVENING PUBLIC
LEDGER's poll clearly proved. The tire
lessly patriotic spokesman for these con-
stituents is William H. Taft, who su-
perbly champions the covenant for the
best two possible reasons. In the first
place, it is the only untried cure for war
which is at hand. The second argument
may interest him only incidentally. 1t
! ic ad du,r hla nnIifice rDr ka
Republican party to support measure
so directly in line with all the ideals for
which it has ever stood.
If Mr. Taft takes higher grounds he
is well worthy of applause; but, on the
other hand, there should be no shame at
tachng to party politics if sincerely and
sanely conducted.
The party system is the cornerstone of
American government. When the Re-
pubicans were doing so we'll for their
country it used to be Philadelphia's con-
viction that it was their party which was
primarily responsible for the national
advancement In a measure this was
true. 1t will be so again if the distinc-
ton once more be drawn between what
, are legitimate partisan issues and what
are not.
= Endorsement of the league pact is a
national duty in the broadcast sense. The
obligation falls upon US all, Democrats
, or Republicans, upon any American citi-
zen who has the faintest inkling of what
the war was ostensibly about.
When the round robins" wings are
clipped and the nation has become an
honorable partner in world peace there
will be legion of topics for the Repub-
Iican party to discuss in healthy opposi-
ton to its rival. Upon the party which
Mr. Lodge processes to represent devolve
gigantic problems of reconstruction.
The solution of them will accord with the
finest Republican traditions.
That way lies redemption.