The evening world., 1920-09-03
THE LARGER KIND.


IN AN address to the Canadian Bar Association at
Ottawa this week, William Howard Taft, emf
nent Republican and former President Of the United
States, said:
81 do not think that those people who con-
tend against the power Of the United States
TO make contracts and enter into obligations
with other nations fully realize how COM
pletely such a construction Of the Constitp-
ton would relegate our great Nation and
Government TO the limbo OF infants and ire
sponsible persons who may not undertake
obligations that are binding upon them"
Here again Mr.. Taft is voicing the larger Ameri-
caniSm.
He is voicing an AmericanSm which does not
fear to play an active participating role in the
greatest international movement civilized humanity
has ever started for the safeguarding of peace.
He is voicing an Amercanism that shakes itself
free from the clutches of schetning partisanshp and
considers the League of Nations solely in the light
of what it will do toward furthenng an aim in which
rght-thinkng men of all parties have been in accord
There are plenty of people Democrats and Re-
publicans, in the United States who have not for
gotten and who will never forget, that William
Howard Taft Republican, was big enough Ameri-
can TO stand on the same platform with President
Wilson in this city eighteen months ago and earn
esty urge other Americans to back the League of
Nations as something far transending party politics.
Speaking al Albany three months later Mr.. Taft
said again:
This is no partisan question. We should
be for or against the League Of Nations
without respect to whether we are Democrats
or Republicans. Personal and partisan con-
siderations of this kind reasons which
should have no influence with us in determin-
ing an issue so fateful in the worlds history
and SO likely to affect the future welfare Of
the people Of the United States and all
mankind
II was a profound misfortune for the country
that Mr.. Tafts influence in his party could not
prevail against the forces by which that party is
now controlled.
1t was profound misfortune for the country
that Republicans like Mr.. Taft could not have lifted
the League Of Nations issue and established once
and for all on plane out of reach of partisan plo
and conspiracy
Even in the midst of this Presidential campaign
the eyes of the people of the United States ough
to be turning toward the League of Nations as TIKI
brightest hope of mankind emerging from darkness
and stress.
Not fully realized, not perfect-but nevertheless
a-practcabe working step, the longest yet, upoI
which ALL Americans should be concentrating thei
best constructive thought and energy to make
succeed.
The wisest, sanest thing American men an
women of all parties can do at the present momen
IS to find time to turn their gaze outward.
Look at the world.
See what is happening there and reflect no,
foolish are those who would have us think that
this twentieth century the United States can con
pletely separate its destiny from the destnies {
other peoples.
See what is soldly good and promising in tn
. League of Nations as against flaws thousar
: times magnified by spite and prejudice.
Above all, don't relegate the United States
0 Mr.. Taft puts it, 'to the limbo of infants and rr
; sponsibe persons"
= This Nation is great and strong enough to tru
itself with other nations in any high adventure tn
seeks to put the devil of war in heavier chains
The larger AmericaniSm does not tremble or tn
J. pale at the thought of such partnership.