Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-01-08
Consistency
From Harvey's Weekly.

Senator Knox and Senator Hitchcock were
both quite consistent: the one was true to his
word in the introduction of his resolution tor
declaring peace; the other was similarly true to
his record in opposing that resolution. Each
was simply repeating his act of months ago.
This seems to be overlooked by those who at
| feet to regard Senator knox's resolution as a
new-fangled device. II is in fact a renewal,
mutatis mutandum, of one which he introduced
long ago, in advance of the negotiation OF the
treaty, and which Senator Hitchcock, being
then in power as a member of the majority
party, would not even permit the senate to con-
slider. The two resolutions were aimed at ex-
actly the same end. 1t is, therefore, absurd to
charge the latter one with being inspired by
opposition to the president, since it is in effect
repetition of one which was framed before
anybody but himself knew what the presidents
policy going to be.
marked with fine consistency 1t recognized the
existence OF what has 70: d year been an indls-
putable fact. 1t recognized the validity OF the
treaty of Versailles far more than do those who
oppose his resolution, for it provides that this
country shall recognize the restoration OF peace
Just soon as three of the great powers shall
have deposited their notifications of the treaty.
which is precisely what the treaty itself pro-
vldes. 1t leaves the acceptance of the details OF
the treaty by the United States open for future
action without prejudice. 1t speaks definitely
for cooperation among the nations of the world
tor the prevention of war by arbitration me
dation or other peaceful means, for the uphold
ing and confirming of international law, and for
the reduction of ornaments. 1t outlies notably
coherent, and logical program in precise accord
with American principles, and. we may add, with
the principles of the other most enlightened ma
tons of the world
In'his prompt, off hand and matter of-course
declaration against the resolution, Senator
Hitchcock equally consistent. He did not
wait to analyze it. He entered into no discus
sion of it. He simply assumed that of course it
will be unacceptable to the PRESIDENT and also
to Germany OF course, Germany's refusal to
acquesce in our course could not affect in the
slightest the going into force of the treaty be-
tween her and the other powers 1t could only
affect her relations with US. and frankly-Sen-
ator Hitchcock to the contrary notwithstanding
we cannot persuade ourselves that she would
voluntarily doom herself to that non-intercourse
with America which we have been told would
be disastrous and even fatal to her, rather than
accept in that form precisely the conditions
which told she would gladly accept in
another form. There are limits to human
credulity.
In in this Senator Hitchcock seems incon-
sistent, it is merely seeming, He is consistent
in the highest sense, since he is consistent in
his inconsistency, Moreover, he Is notably con-
sistent without Inconsistency in his cocksure as
sumption that the resolution will be unaceept-
able to the president. The fixed rule has been
from the beginning that anything would be I'M
acceptable to the president which so much as
dotted Il" or crossed It" in the sacrosanct
integrity of the covenant