New-York tribune., 1920-10-28
The Nation S Honor
1t VIII Not Be impaired bp Defea!

-'H4'' - ~ t(tJcAt
Of Wilson League
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir Is there any truth in tie c.aim
that an adverse vote on our entering ne
unamended league covenant wlI DIAM
ish or destroy the influence OF Ameri-
can sentiment and leadership in years
to come in international affairs In ne
writer's opinion it will be neither d.
FINISHED nor destroyed
When tho war broke out in Furore.
American judgment, as expressed Ia ne
best editorial utterances Of rcnre.cnta-
tive newspapers ana magazines. seemed
to tend strongly toward the Alfred
cause, regardless of party lines. Par
tlcularly was this true in reference to
the violation of Belgium's neutrality and
the invasion OF France. Almost at the
outbreak Of hostilities President Wilson
called upon all Americans to be neutral
even in thought" declaring tha. in
issuing the proclamation his thought
was of America"
As the months passed each month
adding It's quota to the staggering cost
CT the war in lives and in wealth. each
day finding the sentiment OF America
crystallizing more and more in favor Of
the Allies, President Wilson voiced sueh
phrases as mo one knows what Trey
ere fighting for The war has no in.
terest for Us" TOO proud 80 hrh.p and
Peace without victory" Sul worse.
throughout all these months the mill
tary resources Of America the urgent
Iced of strengthening which WAS scarce
ly more difficult to see III advance than
1t is IN retrospect were all but totally
neglected, with the result that the war
vas all but lost before our forces could
finally be raised. trained, transported 10
Europe and thrown half-ready and half
equipped into the path OF the seemingly
lnvincble German machine.
AT length, in spite of everything the
war was won and civilization was saved.
and negotiations with the erstwhile
proud Germany were in order Though
the days since his conversion from "neu-
trality, even in thought, j." were nor many.
d'sregarding the clearly expressed viii
of the nation as well as il needs for
getful even of his oath OF Office 70 put
the interests Of the United States above
all else President Wilson went 20 Eu-
rope. His thought had in the mean
time ceased to be "of America" and had
III some way and at some time become
first and foremost "of humanity
Europe followed President Wilson's
leadership in this most vital matter &C.
eepting in good faith his representations
that his leadership was actually. as well
as titularly, the leadership Of the Uated
States. In the subsequent clash Hth
the Senate Europe saw his CLAIMS 70
actual leadership challenged and dis
proved in America. Europe s,.ll won
ders-when her domestic problems per-
mit-just what happened. and how. and
VIII base her final jgdgmen. of ne
Presidents representations as 20 me
genuineness of his leadership upon The
verdict soon 10 be rendered at the polls
Europe viii know where 10 place me
blame for the tragic disiiius.onment-
for it was nothing less when the ma
ton has spoken: il Will be placed
squarely where it belongs. upon Presi-
dent Wilson, whose assump tons VII
again have been proved false. Though
>ckened at the long delay in the settle
nent of her vast problems. Europe viii
continue TO look to the United States
for sympathetic understanding aad for
leadership in the quest Of a better day.
It is not American leadership which viii
be shattered by the defeat OF Governor
Cox at the polls on November ,, L .
but one small qegment OF American lead
ership which bears the name Of Wilson.
B. G. DRUMMOND.
Brooklyn, Oct. II. 1920.