Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-09-21

the form in which it was submitted
nv the President? This, he said, was
a candid inquiry and deserved a can
did answer, which he proceedeu "
give in that terse and direct way ioi
which he is noted. I'm general ne
said. 1.-THE objection was the reluct-
ance to incur either legal or Hlorai
obligations binding our government
to act in accordance with decisions
not made by itself. 1t was the de-
sire to retain unimpaired the traoi-
tional policies, like the Monroe DOC
trine, and the independence OF actioh
of America" Then he took up lhe
reservations adopted by the senate
and considered them one by one
These" he said. represented an at
tempt to Americanize the league
They represent in part what senators
of both parties believed necessary TO
protect American interests
Now, he asked, what is the affirm
ative record and policy of the Re-
publican party? We have always
BEEN" he said, "a party not of mega
ton but of construction. We shall
not change now" He recalled the
fact that the dominant portion of the
Republican senators twice voted to
ratify the covenant with reserVa-
tons, which the President twice re-
fused to permit. He then quoted the
pledge of the Republican platform to
effect an agreement of the nations.
quoted and interpreted the declara-
tons of Senator Harding, in his &C
ceptance speech and in that of Au-
gust IS, as affirmative and construc-
tive proposals, exactly as the Globe
Democrat has interpreted them, and
concluded his address with the fol-
lowing words:
"A world relationship exists.
1t did not come into being as the
result of any proposed treaty, it
will not be changed by any
great and solemn refcren-
dunn The course of wise and
true craftsmanship is TO seek
out to discover what that rela-
tionship is and put the action of
the nations in harmony with it.
This Senator Harding is propos-
ing to do. That relationship is
not founoeG on u major force.
Prussia made that mistake 1t
is founded on a compelling rea-
son. Its herald is not a clank-
ing sabe: but the still small
voice. To the establishment of
reciprocal rights and duties the
Republican party by its history,
by its policy, by it's candidate,
stands pledged. This is the way.
with national honor, with indie
pendence. to world peace. In
that direction Senator Harding
leads
These. we submit. are positive ut
terances and no man is better quail
led or, we may assume, more fully
authorized, to express the Republi-
can position upon this great question.
The Republican party firmly intends
to make America actively and effect
lively cooperative with the other ma
tons for the maintenance of world
peace and the advancement of world
welfare. We have repeatedly said
that the Democratic program of rati-
fication of the covenant of the lea
que, virtually, as it stands. is an i'm
possible achievement. The election
of Governor Cox could but continue
the status quo. The Republican
position, in the event of Democra-
tic victory, would be firmly main
tanned because it is founded upon
the conviction that it is right. But
the result in Maine indicates that if
there is to be any mandate from
the people" it is to be mandate to
the Republican party, mandate TO,
a league with the judicial element
made predominant and the princi-
pies and purposes of the SEN
ate reservations made effective
1t is inevitable, as We have long in
sisted, that America take it's place
among the nations to maintain
peace. and the election of Senator
Harding will insure that this will be
done at the earliest possible moment
after his Inauguration.