Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-07

son, however, whose position has been
consistent and whose opposition to the
league IN any shape Is well known, with
held his support Of the convention choice
until the candidate had stated the mean
ing of the platform, and announced
definitely the policy that would be his,
If elected
The Republican candidate has spoken
and his utterance calls forth the following
approval from Senator johnson:
Yesterday in his speech Of acceptance
Senator Harding unequivocally took his
stand upon the paramount issue in this
campaign-the League OF Nations. The
Republican party stands committed by its
platform Its standardbearer has now
accentuated that platform. There can be
no misunderstanding his words.
HARDING OPPOSED TREATY.
Senator Harding, as the candidate of
the party, and Senator johnson are as one
on this question, and, as the latter ex-
presses it, the Republican party is commit
ed both by platform in the abstract and
by its candidate in specification. The
threatened revolt among leaders of the
party is averted, but the minority position
as expressed in the Senate prevails as
avowed in support of the Lodge reserva-
tions, or of the so-called mild reservations,
has been surrendered to expediency.
Senator Harding makes this new pledge
of policy in behalf of his party;
81 promise you formal and effective
peace so quickly as Republican Congress
can pass its declaration for Republican
executive 70 sign"
This means but one thlng-a separate
peace with GERMANY
This would be the most disheartening
event in civilization since the Russians
made their separate peace with Germany
and infinitely more unworthy on our part
than it was on that of the Russians. They
were threatened with starvation and revo-
lutionN had swept their country. Our
soldiers fought side by side with the Allies.
So complete was the coalition OF strength
and purpose that General Foch was given
supreme command, and every soldier IN
the allied cause, no matter what flag he
followed, recognized him as his chief. We
fought the war together, and now before
the thing is through II is proposed TO enter
into separate peace with Germany. In
good faith we pledged our strength with
our associates for the enforcement of
terms upon offending powers, and now il
pose Germany, recognizing the first break
in the Allies, proposes something we can
not accept. Does Senator Harding intend
TO send an army TO Germany TO press her
TO our terms2 Containly the allied army
could not be expected to render aid. II, on
the other hand, Germany should accept
the chance We offered Of breaking the bond
ii would be for the express purpose OF in
surfing German-American alliance, recog-
nizing that the Allies-in fact, no nation
in good standing would have anything TO
do with either of us.
This plan would not only be piece of
bungling diplomacy, but plain, unadulter-
ated dishonesty, as well.
No less an authority than Senator
Lodge said, before the heat Of recent con-
Moversy. that to make peace except in
company with the Allies would "brand us
everlastingly with dishonor and bring
ruin TO us"
And then after peace is made with
Germany, Senator Harding would, he
says, hopefully approach the nations of
Europe and of the earth, proposing that
understanding which makes us willing
participant in the conservation OF nations
to a new relationship"
In short, America, refusing to enter
ShC ASttSOt VI &NdIAcllS Aito" sstitCooy So-
tablished by twenty-nine nations) and
bearing and deserving the contempt of the
world, would submit an entirely new prof.
ect. This act would either be regarded
as arrant madness or attempted in
ternatlonal bossium.
INCONSISTENCIES HAUNT REPUBLICANS.
The plain truth is, that the Republican
leaders, obsessed with determination to
win the Presidential election, have at
tempted to satisfy too many divergent
views. inconsistencies, inevitable under
the circumstances, rise TO haunt them on
every hand, and they find themselves
arrayed in public thought at least, against
a great principle. More than that, their
conduct is opposed to the idealism upon
which their party prospered in other ways.
Illustrating these observations by con-
crete facts, let it be remembered that
those now inveighing against an interest |
in affairs outside Of America, criticised |
President Wilson IN unmeasured terms |
for not resenting the invasion of Belgium |
in 1914. They term the League of Ma