The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-09
The Democratic Candidate
and the League Of Nations.


Gov. Cox's speech Of acceptance was
lust as good as was expected by nus
old friends and hored by his new to'-
lowers who did not know by actual eS-
nerience the Quality Of hts mettle' Fhe
Democratic candidate easily outspeaEs
the Republican. which makes IL saa'-
tlonaI ground for conEratulRion thR'
he is not tied down 10 front porch
for the summer.
The Democratic leader lands with
both feet on the latest edition OF Re
publicanIsm with regard to the league
OF nations,
The Democratic party is blessed this
season beyond It's expectations ana al
most beyond it's deserts. 1t had dali
lied 40 long with the idea Of the Cow
enant as II stands that against its bet
ter judgment and It's patriotism II hes
itated when time came to define the
issue, to declare for proper reserva'
tions along with ratification. This Is
not TO say that the nominee hesitated,
for he came out with two reservations
as good and as effective as any that
have vet been proposed. and came out
Immediately upon his nomination; but
some Of his party were dubious.
Along came Senator Harding. how
ever. with a speech OF acceptance In
which he gives up entirely the posi-
ton of the majority Republicans In
favor OF a league with reservations,
and goes along with Johnson into po-
ntlcRl suicide by declaring for no league
at all and a patched up separate peace
with Germany. That was more than
an accommodation. II was an eleventh.
hour reprieve, live-saver,
II Is not in the American nature
to declare for extreme policies when
there are sound policies OF moderation
on hand. with the rank and file the
Democratic internationalists were as
extreme and as unpopular as are the
Republican bitter enders. Fortunately
the Republicans had to come out first
with a pronouncement. and they went
the limit. this made il possible for the
Democrats to advocate with good face
as well as with conviction the virtues
of sound middle doctrine. such as that
of league with Cox reservations,
The league OF nations with reserva-
tions that define our constitutional linn
itations as a participant in super
state, and insist upon American SOW
ereignty where IL Is properly sovereign.
is not scheme that can do us any
harm. on the other hand It Is a scheme
to which we are honor bound as part
Of the allied peace with Germany and
scheme that diplomats have calcu-
lated might 70 far If not all the way
toward preventing future wars
The job ahead Of the Democratic
candidate now is to hold Senator Hard
ing to his speech Of acceptance. There
are signs that his party is trying 10
wriggle out Of the box into which he
has fitted it and come out again upon
the broad ground Of the Lodge reserva-
tons.
The Democratic leader might have
devoted little less ~ his time 20
the tiresome Lodge legend To abuse
Lodge is an obsession with Democrats
The Democratic platform honored the
name OF Lodge with many words and
went so TAT rs 10 cue Nut NlRi'E hNN
for the publication Of one Of his league
articles in popular magazine
Not much il to be said in favor or
the temper Of Lodges guerrilla war
against the administration, hut on the
other hand, nothing can be proved In
psychology, and Il has nothing 70 do
with the present campaign anyway. n
the Lodge reservations themselves are
examined. they will be seen TO he FOR
the most part simpl" statements OF our
constitutional government, and to make
on the whole very proper document.
They are no more unreasonable than
the Cox reservations.
The Republican candidate is not for
the Lodge reservations. while the
Democratic party is for SOM sort oi
reservations just as good and COM
seauentiy the Democrats are attacking
themselves when they rake W an at
tack on that poor document
one thing is certain, and for that
much may be forgiven. The Demo
cratic candidate is for reservations
We hear il said that interpretations
are unnecessary That NAV be true
but they will At least be reassuring"