Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-09
\ keynote That Rings False

Q ELF-CONFICTED of hypocrisy branded
~ by tho fair-mnded portion of Ameri-
can citizens as Il political opportunst who
led the United States Senate to sacrifice the
national interests through sheer personal
hatred of the President. and actuated dur
ing the last year by nothing higher than
political motives. Henry Cabot Lodge was
wisely chosen TO sound the keynote of Il
hypocritical and obstructionist party. His
keynote" speech justified his selection by
the party leaders
Above all others. one thing stands out in
his Chicago address, carefully prepared as
pilot to party policy. That is his abuse
and vilitcation OF the President. 1t was
not unexpected. When the President lay
stricken, victim Of his own overcxertions
in his country's behalf. and the world in
suspense awaited the doubtful outcome, it
was Lodge who led attacks on him that
considering the circumstances, were moth
ing short OF indecent. So void of ordinary
feeling then. what more natural than that
he should continue them in even more bit
ter vein now that the object of his hate
is at least partially restored 10 health, and
the most important campaign in years is
getting under way.
Mr. Lodges address admittedly is keen
and shrcwd but in his assault on the Prcsi-
dent as un-American and ambitious to rule
as Car. defrauding America of its rights
as a free. sclf-govcrning people he has over
played his hand and his keynote" fails Of
the effectiveness il might have had if he
had SHOWN less animosity and more of
disposition to truth and fairness For his
charge OF un-Amcrcanism against the
President is one that will not stand and
the American people will resent il to the
cost OF that party whose leader has made il.
Toward nf
sons League" as Senator Lodge frequently
and sarcastically refers to ii, the keynote"
is bitter. 1t could not have been other
wise. Senator Lodge, for himself, for the
United States Senate, and for the Rcpub-
lican party, assumes full measure OF re-
sponsibility and claims credit for stopping
Mr.. Wilson'S treaty" He boasts that the
issue has been made. and that his party is
Glad of the opportunity to fight il out be-
fore the people and abide the result nj the
polls
Aside from the venomous and repeated
attacks on the President, and its discussion
OF the league OF nations, the Keynote" is
largely collection of platitudeS, a state
ment of conditions, result of Wilson's NAL
administration n bclittlcmcnt of what the
Democratic administration has accom-
pished during its seven years incumbency
and vainglorious, boastful attempt to
bolster up what the Republicans have done
in the face of hostile administration"
since the people returned them TO power
Ana this in spite of the fact that not even
ar effort was made by this Republican Con-
gress to reduce the high cost of living or
meet other disturbing conditions. which
Senator Lodge says is the first problem TO
which the victorious party should address
itself.
So much for the Lodge Keynote" speech
II his address, rcpcic with personal and
political hatred of the President it's full
assumption of credit for delaying peace and
robbing this country of the fruits of its
victory in war, and the loss of its inter
nationa! prestige and leadership, its failure
10 apply remedies for admittedly distress
ING conditions its patitudes, its hyper
bolcs, its spccious reasoning and it's DELHI
crate iaisrhoods, be accepted by the Chi
cago convention as the basis whereon its
platform is 10 he built, then the Democra ic
party need have no fear of the arbtra-
mcnt OF the ballot in November