New-York tribune., 1920-08-23
The Republican Plan

clarlng themselves in favor of the
Republican candidates. The reasons
for this decision are becoming, we
think, steadily clearer and more per
suasive.
a vote for Governor Cox inevi-
tably means a vote for the Wilson
league as it stands to-day-with
certain underlined "interpretative"
reservations. Perhaps Mr.. Cox might
yield much under this phrase. He
might conceivably yield the unpopu-
lar Article X. Secretary Baker evi-
IDENTIFY thinks not, for he defends this
section, as did Mr. Wilson, as the
breath Of life Of the league In any
event it is clear that Mr.. Cox sees
no necessity for vital changes in the
covenant, and that therefore he Of
fers no constructive plan for its COM
pletion or betterment. He accepts
the Wilson league largely as an act
of faith, and friends of the league
principle who vote for Mr.. Cox are
obliged to accept it in much the same
spirit.
The Republican platform is un-
qualified in its support Of league
Words could not be clearer, more
definite. Both Senator Harding and
Governor Coolidge. in their speeches
of acceptance, pledged themselves
specifically to the support of this
outspoken plank. 1t is not, however,
a pledge to enter the Wilson league
with eyes shut. The existing league
is not discussed Instead there is a
broad definition Of that complete
league toward the development Of
which, with America as a member,
Mr.. Harding and the Republican
party solemnly pledge themselves.
The words of this plank, The
Tribune conceives, are of historic
Importance. They were penned by
Elihu Root, the ablest mind in the
Republican party touching the sub
stance of a league--in the opinion of
many the ablest mind in any party
or any country upon the whole prof.
ect. 1t is largely upon Mr. Roots
genius that the Republican party,
if it prevails in November, will un-
questionably rely for the perform
ance of its pledge to bring America
into world league. Therefore, we
ask a careful reading of these far
seeing words, which, in our judg-
ment, constitute the first utterance
of a comprehensive and definite plan
for true league of peace, organiz-
ing effectively every force for peace
available in the world to-day:
"The Republican party stands for
an agreement, among the nations to
preserve the peace of the world. We
believe that such an international as
sociation must be based upon inter-
national justice, and must provide
methods which shall maintain the rule
of public right by the development Of
law and the decision of impartial
courts and which shall secure instant
and general international conference
whenever peace shall be threatened by
political action, so that the nations
pledged to do and insist upon what is
just and fair may exercise their in
fuence and power for the prevention
of war;
1t will be noticed that the plank
puts the juridical features of a
league first, the ever-rcady diplo-
matte functions second. This ac-
cords, we are confident, with the
conviction of liberal thought and the
wisest friends of peace. AS has been
discussed in these columns, the Paris
league was the inevitable conse-
quence of the hour in which it was
framed; 1t looks primarily to diplo-
macy to avert war and gives the
scantest thought to those slower
processes whereby international law
can be developed and respect
for international justice established
which will gradually eliminate the
causes of war. In any long view of
the problem it seems plain that the
slower method offers the more rea-
sonable hope of eliminating war.
Only after a bill of international
rights has been constructed by the
evolution of the common will of the
nations of the world, operating
through international courts of JUS
tice and international conferences
upon law, can any solid basis for a
league of nations be said to exist.
AS an old friend of the league
principle The Tribune takes especial
pride in this broad, constructive plan
Of the Republican party. 1t por-
trays task that will demand years