New-York tribune., 1920-08-09
A Leaderless Nation


Those who dislike Mr.. Wilson with
a personal bitterness see in his
silence and unwillingness to commit
this nation in European affairs a
personal pique at the rejection of his
League of Nations. But this is, we
think, to miss the essential truth Of
the situation. Had we entered the
league President Wilson would not
have furnished a practical leader
ship for the nation or brought prac-
tical aid to Europe in such a matter
as that crucial conflict of race and
nationality now coming to a climax
without the gates Of Warsaw.
1t is, no doubt, his personal belief
that had the United States joined
the league all would have been we'll
The Polish problem would have been
settled in some mysterious fashion
by the joint wisdom Of the league
Poland would have been turned back
by a gesture, the Bolsheviki by a
threat Many sincere friends of the
league hold the same view. But is
there reasonable probability be-
hind this hope? The case is parallel
to that Of Italy, where the abstract
theories enunciated by President
Wilson in his Fourteen Points failed
utterly to solve satisfactp prily the
hopelessly tangled problem of min
gled races and conflicting national
aspirations that embroils the eastern
Adriatic coast and that equally dis
turbs the frontier of Europe from
the Baltic to the Black Sea.
1t is contended by the friends OF
the league that Article X has no ap-
plicatlon to the present quarrel be-
tween Poland and the Bolsheviki
Whether the league covenant applies
or not, what is clear, we submit, is
that no formula, no simple phrase of
right or wrong, no threat from with
out, however powerful, can solve this
confused issue. Right is not wholly
or clearly with either side-it never
is in so complex racial issue. What
is needed is not so much a new in
stitution or old generalities, but
farseeing, practical wisdom based
upon an intimate and thorough
knowledge Of racial facts.
1t is precisely in respect to this
practical wisdom in world affairs
that President Wilson has shown
himself most open to criticism. For
months he openly professed not to
understand the European war For
years he left the country utterly
leaderless, so far as his voice was
concerned, in that difficult period
when above all else it behooved the
American people to look without and
consider and make ready to play our
part in the greatest of world issues.
OiS SNAi4OC iiClp DuC 1cel tIdC uODlc
as was President Wilson'S language
in entering the war and in making
peace it lacked the proper back
ground of facts, that it was the i'm
provisation Of a fine mind hastily ap-
piled to unfamiliar material.
Even if our entry into the League
of Nations might have facilitated
the conclusion of measures with re-
spect to Poland, is that any excuse
for sitting on the side-lines now. for
letting the European war break into
full blaze again with no word spoken
to the American people, no leader
ship of American thought attempted
to bring our share of wisdom and
interest to bear upon this new Sara
Jevo? The answer is, we think. that
suggested before. President Wilson
does not lead because he does not
know whittier to lead. His is the
mind to create formula and q
faith and shift to them the solution
or a problem. He has neither the
training nor the type of mind to
bring practical leadership to inter
national affairs.