New-York tribune., 1920-10-29

stantive; it imports distinct and
clear idea of itself; and it is not to
lose its Importance and dignity, it is
not to be turned into poor, ambig-
uous, senseless, unmcaning adjective
TOR the purpose of accommodating any
new set of political notions.'
President Added TO Confusion
The President himself in his public
addresses constantly added to the con-
fusion of the public mind as to what
the covenant really meant. In one
breath we were told that it imposed no
liability upon us to interfere in the
petty quarrels Of Europe. and in the
next breath we were assured that Ar
ucle K, unamendcd, was essential to
the effectiveness of the whole instru
ment.
AS many men out Of the Presidents
party as in it urged that the question
be taken out Of politics and that ef-
iectlve reservations be reached by ad-
justment. But the question has been
kept IN politics. | do not claim that
the Republican party has been wholly
blameless, but do assert that it was
the duty of the President of the
united states to use that tolerance
which would have kept behind him the
ms leadership during the war. We
have had for two years the amazing
spectacle OF our Chief Executive
preaching unity and concord to the
diverse races of the world while ex-
hlbltlng an amazing incapacity to find
any path Of concord with his own
countrymen.
There is story Of the ancient phi
losopher Thales, who, when wandering
IN the fields looking at the stars, fell
INTO a pit. A peasant woman passing
by was asked to pull him out, and,
woman like, she asked how he had fall
en- there. He said he was examining
tho stars; and, with a woman's wit
she replied: Foolish man. how canst
thou expect to know the stars if thou
dost not know what lies at thy feet :?
Many centuries passed and another
philosopher, watching the fall OF an
apple, tried to understand the thing
that had happened at his feet and dis
covered the law which governed the
stars. The world has needed an Isaac
Newton and it has had Thales.
DO not misunderstood me- am not
here to mock at the idealism of the
PRESIDENT. There are millions of men
and women in this country not confined
to his own party who deplore the trag-
And it is tragedy. All over this
world men and women and children
have paid the great price and have
hoped vaguely for great reward. Our
own nation, because of its isolation
from the early years Of the war, has
paid the least price, and perhaps for
that very reason was the least to be
expected to hurriedly abandon old
moorlngs to go forth upon an un-
charted sea. This nation has learned,
however, what wise men knew before
and what President Wilson apparently
by his own admission entirely over
looked that the world after the war
like the world before the war, will be
made up of different nations with in
tense national feelings
People Want Republicans in Office
"ln working out the problems of the
peace, in the fixing into some durable
form the association Of the nations of
the world, believe this country can
take q more intelligent part during the
next four years under Republican adj
ministration than under Democratic ad-
ministration. In this important task
which lies ahead Of us | believe that
the people prefer to have the Kepub-
lican party cease TO occupy the role of
critic and to assume the responsibility
of administration. believe they pre-
fer to have the Democratic party cease
the responsible role of administration
and assume the role Of critic.
What form the new association of
the nations will take no man can tell
That depends not only UPON ourselves
but upon the nations of the world.
There are some points that are now
fixed America viii not tolerate any
uper-govcrnmcnt. The nation will
never humiliate itself by leaving the