Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-13
The Peace Treaty Should Not
Be Made al Political Payn
p-HE divergent utterances of Jackson
Day have set watchers of the winds
of politics to asking whether Presl-


Day have set watchers of the winds
n of politics to asking whether Presl-
dent Wilson or Mr. Bryan gave the shreWder
counsel. Their question may well De leIt 70
soan-box debaters. For at this Juncture II
is neither the President nor the Nebraskan,
hut the Senate itself that has the important
saw on the Treaty deadlock. The Senate
being the responsibility, it should aDanoon
craftsmanship, ignore pride OF oplnon anu
unite to ratify the Treaty and the League
sCoyena11t-with reservations, if need be, TO
clarity and safeguard dubious points, but
without doing violence to the pact's spirit
and purpose This is no issue for party poll
tics, and no time for obstinacy or clubbing.
What the country wants, and what the
inst bonorahIe and abiding peace The
rank and file of americans know next to
nothing about the technicalities OF the
Treaty, and little do. they care about me
suIln differences on which senatorial
groups are divided But they do know .tnat
an issue. involving their own and mankfho 5
dearest interests is in the. balance and they
care tremendo usly that it shall be settled
right and without procrastination. On this
all important and distinctly national matter
Sheyare not concerned with the bases OF any
party or the political fortunes of any man
They consider it just as much the duty OF
Democrats and Republicans to unite in max
war They realize that already there has
been too much politics and prejudice-de-
pIorably too much-thrust into this ISSUE
and that the imperative need is a coming to-
gether for statesmanly cooperation.
What If this coming together demands
that both sides give up certain predHectlohs:
Is it not better to compromise along con-
structive lines than to sacrifice the treaty.
and the League to stiff-necked consist
ency?" Is it not wiser to yield a word here.
and there than to lose the sublime spirit and
promise lying beneath the letter OF the, great
Covenant? We do not mean to imply that
the text itself should be tempered with or
that reservations hostile to it's chief intent
and fatal to it's successful working should
be allowed We do not mean that fanc1ful
fears concerning Americas responsibility III
the League, or academic doubts concerning
her sovereignty should be INDUCED. But
surely among ninety-six Senators there IS
enough right purpose and enough mother
wit to work out an agreement that will sat-
isfy reasonable doubts and at the same time
leave essentials undisturbed This could
not be done if all were of the mind OF Mr..
Borah and his fellow .'Irreconci lables." But
they are a lean minority. Fully two-thirds
of the Senators, if we take their statements
at face value, believe in a League of Ma
lions Tor at least in trying it out) and adj
NIT the urgent need of lifting our foreign
relations out of the ineptitude and anxiety
power of this majority, Republicans and
Democrats together, to ratify the Treaty. not
without certain reservations or interpreta-
tive comment, but without impairment of
the substantial justice which 1t embodes
and the saving hope of which it is the ark.
This being their power and opportunity,
how tremendous is their obligation! Not to
make the utmost effort to get together on
the issue now, instead of letting it drift into
a boisterous political campaign, would be
unspeakably foolish and unspeakably wrong.
Either party that fails to make and to meet
such an effort will stand condemned by the
thoughtful public; anda should both fail to
do so, both would stand condemned. Not
what is best for the Democratic party, nor
what is best for the Republican party, but
what is best for the American people-that
is the Senate's only rightful concern. Ger
tainly, nothing could be worse for the: people
or the nation than postponement Of this
critical question for fourteen months and a
dragging of delicate diplomatic issues over
the stumps of an unbridled partisan contest.
Already our foreign commerce suffers and
our domestic business is menaced because of
the long delay on the Treaty. Shall we then
aggravate that suffering and bring the
menace to pass by stretching out the delay
for another fourteen months? That is the
minimum period, it is agreed, in which the
question could be disposed of if it were flung
into next autumns Presidential election.
Nor would it then be disposed of satisfac-
torily unless the Democrats, or advocates of
present Democratic policy, gained tWo-thirds
of the Senate, besides the Administration.
Apart from these grave contingencies, think
Of the consequences of a campaign in which
all the jingoistic furies of our politics would
be egged on to assail the Powers with whom
we were associated in the World War. How
much good. will would, be left us in other
lands when the din of that Kilkenny cat
@ght subsidized?
The right way and the practical way to
settle this issue is not through a fracas on
the hastings but through agreement in the
Senate. To the State it must finally be re-
ferred, no matter how long and loud the
debate of the stump orators might be; for
without that body's approval no treaty can
be made binding upon this Government, If
the Senate cannot reach an agreement now,
when forty-fye Democratic members are
united on essentials and more than enough
Republicans to make up the two-thirds major
ity declare that they favor the principle of a
League of Nations, what assurance would
there be of an agreement fourteen months
hence at the end Of bitter partisan battlei