Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-11
Shall Pride and art1anshib
Wreck the Peace TreatyS
NRESIDENT WILSON'S latest word on
the Peace Treaty is heartening to his

DREs1DENT WILSON'S latest word on
the Peace Treaty is heartening to his
enemies, but it is sorely fisappoint
ing to his friends 1t kills for a year at
least, if not forever, the hope of j ser
viceable agreement on the high questions
and high interests involved, and thrusts
the issue into the tangles of a partisan
campaign, just as the Treaty's foes have
long desired. What the Bitter Enders in
the Senate have schemed for from the out
set and what steadfast believers in a League
OF Nations have sought by every manner of
means to prevent, the President himself has
brought to pass. He has locked the door on
reasonable compromise, and thrown away the
key. Sad truth to tell, he has joined the
1rreconcilables.
The pity of it all is first for the humani-
tartan purposes which thus are blocked
though not crushed, let us hope. The Jour
nal shares Mr.. Wilson's idea, as far as the
deeper aims of the International covenant
are concerned, that they should be consid-
cred sin the light of what it is possible to
accomplish for humanity rather than in the
light Of special national interests" for how
better can we insure our own prosperity and
peace and fruitful freedom than by doing
great nations part to make justice and good
will the law Of the world. Certain it is that
if ever America becomes Indifferent to the
claims Of humanity, she will have lost the
vision of her founders and the breath of her
true being.
But surely 1t is not for one man alone to
,say-to the exclusion of all other counsel
even the friendliest-on just what terms and
by just means those claims shall be met.
Liberal minds the country over and indeed
throughout the world, agreed that a League
of Nations should be established to fortify
and promote the great human interests in
whose defense the war was waged. But when
it comes to framing and ordering such a
League, there is naturally a divergence of
Of opinion. The covenant which President
Wilson brought back from Paris represents
what was then the most workable plan on
which he and the others at the peace table
could agree. But it did not represent the only
conceivable plan by which the purposes con-
cerned could be accomplished. It was not
a Decalogue whose every syllable was sacred;
it was not Revelation, to change one let
ter of which would be impious It was a
human document, regarding which there was
bound to be a variety of views among men
who were sufficiently in earnest over it to
think for themselves. We speaking now,
not of the Borahs and Reeds, but Of earnest
supporters Of the League principle-such as
President Lowell, Of Harvard; former Pres
ident Taft, Herbert Hoover, most of the Demo-
cratic Senators, many of the Republicans and
also the broadcast thinkers in Allied coun-
tries Men like these, being more intent upon
the spirit than the letter of the League con-
reservations as were necessary to secure a
ratifying majority in the Senate. They were
willing, it is true to take the Treaty exactly
as the President submitted it, they consid-
cred some of the proposed reservations need
less and others i'll advised. But rather than
see the great compact defeated and the high
hopes of humanity cast down, rather than
see peace delayed another tyelvemont
while the issues on which it hung were
dargged into the scuffle and muck of par
tisan campaign, these friends Of the Treaty
put pride of opinion behind them and worked
self-forgetfully for reconciliation and results.
The Presidents most gfievous error, as
see it, lies in his having turned his back
upon these his wisest counselors and faith
full friends. That his motives are of the high
est order, we do rot question; but they are
nevertheless likely to prove fatal to the
very cause for which hitherto he has so no.
bly, and sagaciously striven, unless there
comes at the eleventh hour some saving
stroke of concession and adjustment. That
the President considers the Treaty the most
fortunate issue upon which the Democratic
party can wage it's 1920 campaign, is evil
dent; and some observers infer that he plans
to make the fight in person, seeking third
term nomination. But if ever there was a
political certainty it is that the Democratic
party can i'll afford, as matter either Of
expediency or of principle, to go before the
country with a record of having sacrificed
peace and international stability to partisan
ship or TO pr1Oe. IL matters not LnaC RepuD
.lican leadership is grealy to be Censured anC
that the Republican organization has proved
it's utter lack of constructiveness. The fail
ures and wrongs of others, conspicuous
though they are, will not exculpate the Dem
ocrats if they also join in the procedure
which sends the Treaty to death and the
League of Nations to history's junk heap
The American people will hold neither party
guiltless that has a hand in such out
come; rather they will condemn those who
were too proud to compromise along will
those who were too partisan to forget thei1
enmity toward the Administration.
The hour has struck for Independent &C
. ton by the, Democrats of the Senate, actor
which at least will give their party clea
record and which may spare their countr.
grieyous disappointment and confusion. The.
should take the peace issue courageously in
TO their own hands, effect agreement will
the Republicans who are for reservation
that will not nullify the League covenant
and thus secure the ratification of the Treaty
For what next may occur the President alon
will be responsible. What the Democrat