Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-28
HARDING STANDS FOR FREE AMERICA

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international Justice and tho council
created by the league covenant is
simple but profound.
The one Is a judicial tribunal to
he governed by fixed and definite
principles Of law administered with
out passion OF predutice. The other
is an association Of diplomats and
politicians whose determinations are
sure to be influenced by considera-
tions of expediency and national
selfishness. The difference Is one
with which Americans are familiar,
the old and fundamental differences
between the government Of laws and
a government OF men.
I do not mean to say. nor do
mean to permit any such construc-
ton, that I would decline to OPP
crate with other nations ina an
honest edneavor to prevent wars.
Nobdy living would take that posi-
ton. The only question is one OF
method or of practicability within
the bounds prescribed by tunda-
mental principles.
There are distinctly two types OF
international relationship. One Is an
offensive and defensive alliance OF
great powers. like that created at
Versailles, to impose their will upon
the helpless peoples of the world.
Frankly, am opposed to such
scheme as that, and speak know
ingly, when I say that the associated
powers, with whom we fought the
war. were reluctant to accept such
a proposition.
am opposed to the very thought
Of our republic becoming q party to
90 great an outrage upon other
peoples, who have as good right to
seek their political freedom as we
had in TITS and have the same right
to developing eminence under the in
spiration OF nationality as we held for
ourselves.
The Other Type.
The other type Is q society OF free
nations, or an association OF free ma
lions, or league of free nations, an
imated by considerations Of right and
justice. instead of might and self
|
an agency In pursuit Of peace. but
SO organized and so participated In as
to make the actual attainment OF
peace reasonable possibility. Such
an association I favor with all my
heart, and I would make no fine dis
tinction as to whom credit Is due.
One need not care what 1t ia called.
Let is be an association, society, or
q league. or what not, our concern Is
solely with the substance, not the
form thereof.
This Is proposing no new thing.
This country is already member Of
such society-The Hague tribunal.
which unlike the league Of Versailles.
is still functioning, and within q few
weeks will resume its committee ses-
sions under the chairmanship Of an
American representative.
! Cause Of Failure Apparent.
In that body we have the France
work Of a really effective instrument
tally OF enduring peace. The fact
that the tribunal did not prevent the
great war 10, Of course, manifest, but
the cause Of the failure Is no less
apparent. Germany. already secret
~ determined upon a ruthless inva-
sion, was able to prevent the adop-
tton OF measures which might have
proved effectual. Tho condition now
is wholly different. Not, only Ger
many, but the entire world has pro-
f1ted to the extent Of an awful OBJ
ject lesson, the Impressions Of which
can not be erased from the human
mind for generations to come The
horrors Of war and the eagerness for
peace have become universal. What
once seemed at The Hague to be a.
Nero academic discussion has become
a positive, outstanding need of fac
Ing terrifying actualitiss. This, makes
vastly easier the task Of 20 sttength-ss
enin; The Hague tribunal ~ to rem
der its rust DEGREES eithSr acceptable
orr enforceable. It IL net uncommon
for the advocates Of the league of
Versailles to contrast unfavorably
The Hague tribunal upon the ground
that the tribunal lacks teeth"
Lst's Install the Teeth.
Very well. then. let's put teeth in
to It. #, in tho failed league Of Yer
sai1les, there can Be found machinery
which the tribunal can use properly
and advantaseously, by all means Diet
It be appropriated. I would even go
further. would take ana combine all
that Il good and excise all that is bad
from both organisations. This state
ment II broad enough to include the
suggestion that II the league, which
has heretofore riveted our considera-
lions and approximations, has been
SO sntwined and interviewer into the
peace Of Europe. that it, good must
be preserved in order to stabilize the
peace OF that continent. then It can
be amended or revised 30 that we may
still have remnant Of world aspira-
tons in 1918 builded into the worlds
highest conception Of helpful CO.
operation in the ultimate realization.
{ believe humanity would well
come tho creation Of an international
association for conference and q,
world court whose verdicts upon Jus
ticfabls question. this country In
common with all nations would be
both willing ana able to uphold. The
decision Of such q court or the REQ
concentrations, Of such q conference
could be accepted without sarihcing on
our part or asking any other power
to sacrifice one lota Of its nation,
atty.
Already Abandoned by Europe.
The democratic nominee has spok-
ca about America Abandoning her as
soodatss m war and AssSrtins the al
lied nations IN establishing the lea
que Of Versailles. I do not think it
longer necessary to challenge that