Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-30
Issues That Point Forward,
: Not Blackboard, Are Supreme

as S the average Georgia Democrat,
IN interested in principles rather than
a n in the personalities of politics.
q considers the forthcoming Presidential pri-
mary he sees quite clearly that the issues Win
which the party and the country are now
most concerned point forward, not back
ward He sees with reference to the Peace
:; Treaty for example, that the all-1mportant
!. question is not what ought to have been done
a year ago, but what ought to be done now;
= not regretful what might have been, but
81 "a resolute facing of facts with view to
the best course for the future.
tOnly thus can the party win, and only thus
will it deserve to win. For any organization
or any man that thinks more Of the water
which has passed under the bridge than Of
: the living currents of present duty and right
will fail in service and in leadership.
This is a truth of capital Importance to
- Georgia voters because it is the pivotal point
in the contest which the April primary is to
decide. That contest is essentially one of
+ ideas rather than of men. There will
be heady partisans, of course, who will seek
to make it otherwise, appealing to preju-
dice and factionalism, forgetting large issues
in little personalities, losing sight of what
is involved for Democracy and for America,
and losing, alas, the good temper and good
sense of their normal selves. But these, The
Journal earnestly trusts and believes, will
be but handful amongst the thousands
who will think the issues calmly out for
themselves, vote as their judgment directs,
and go on living az neigh borIy human beings
with no desire to initiate the cats of Kill
kenny
But the very fact that it is ideas rather
than men, ideas of national and worldwide
import, that are pitted one against the other
makes the contest all the more sharply de-
fined and all the weightier in the respon-
sibilities it brings to the voter. For if one
of these ideas should prevail-that one which
/ binds the democratic party to dogmatic in
sistence upon the Peace Treaty's being &C
copied precisely as the President first sub
/ mitted it, or not at ALT would foredoom
the Democratic party to defeat. Or, if we
can strain imagination to the point of con-
eeiving the election of Presidential candi-
date on such platform, it would mean still
further delay and confusion in the establish
.nlent of peace, and death blow to our hopes
for the League of Nations The simplest
consideration of public opinion and national
needs will show that candidate could
win with policy like this-not even so
highly esteemed gentleman as Hon. A.
Mitchell Palmer.
The American public is no respecter of per-
sons when common sense and conscience con-
vince them that leader, howsoever exalted
and beloved he may be, is on a mistaken
I and dangerous course. Mr.. Wilson himself,
r. whose constructive achievements have lost
not a JOC Oh Tue people dQmlfdIlOu, COulu
not carry the public with him to the point Of
letting the Treaty and the League be wrecked,
rather than concede certain needful reserva-
tons The fact is he did not carry the ma
sjority of his own party in the Senate when
this question came to a crucial test; and it
is peculiarly significant that not one Demo-
cratic Senator from a doubtful State-a
State, that is to say, where there is con-
siderable independent vote-took the posi-
ton that peace should be indefinitely de-
ferred and the League covenant rejected al
together, rather than accept the modifica-
lions necessary to secure ratifying major
ity. Twenty-one Democratic Senators,
voted for the Treaty in the only form in
!. which it stood a chance Of passing, voted for
speedy and honorable peace, voted for we'll
advised international cooperation to prevent
future wars, voted for the best interests Of
their country and of the world.
We do not mean to imply that they con-
sidered these reservations in every instance
, essential or we'll advised. But they knew
that without reservations, there would be,
in so far as America concerned, no
Treaty, no League, no peace, no return to
normal conditions, co-Working to repair
4 the wars dark raVages and heal it's grievous
wounds. Moreover, they were assured that
these reservations would be accepted by the
Allied Governments, Lord Grey having
spoken Enthusiastically to that effect; and we'll
aware they were that their own country's
Hoover, Mr.. Bryan, the presidents of the
leading universities and publicists generally,
including the stanchest friends of the
League of Nations, urged the passage Of the
Treaty upon these, the only procurable,
terms. Were those Democrats wise or I'M
o. wise in facing realities instead of burying
their heads in the ostrich sands of pride and
partisanship? We're they right wrong in
looking futureward to the issues with which
Democrat will have to deal and to the prob
lens which America will have to grapple,
instead of backward to designs and theories
which events had proved impossible of &C
complishment?
I /. To answer this is to decide the chief issue
81 in the Georgia Presidential primary, and to
determine to an important extent what poll
ces shall prevail in the San Francisco con-
vention.
- -----<------
A Chicago paper assures that 1.-The 25-
cent sock is again on the market Men
3 with only one leg may be interested in this
1sannouncement.-Portl (Ore.) Telegram