The Washington times., 1920-08-07

consistent and whose opposition to
the league In any shape - Wen
known. withheld his support OF the
conventions choice until the candi-
date had stated the meaning OF the
platform. and announced definitely
the policy that would be his II elect
ed.
spoken and his utterance calls forth
the following approval from Senator
Johnsona
Yesterday. In his speech of ac-
ceptance, Senator Harding unequivo-
cAlly took his stand upon the para
mount issue in this campaign-the
League of Nations. The Republican
party stands committed by Its plat
form. It's standa rd bearer has now
accentuated that platform. There can
be no Misunderstanding his words.
Senator Harding. as the candidate
of the party. and Senator johnson are
as one on this question. and as the
latter expresses II. the Republican
party is committed both by platform
in the abstract and by It's candidate
in specification. The threatened re-
volt among leaders of the party Is
averted, but the minority position as
expressed in the Senate prevails as
that of the party. In short. principle,
as avowed in support Of the Lodge
reservations. or of the so-called mild
reservations, has been surrendered to
expediency.
SCORES HARDING PROMISE.
Senator Harding makes this new
pledge Of policy In behalf Of his
party: '1
IT promise you formal and effec-
tive peace so quickly as Republican,
Congress can pass its declaration for
Republican executive to sign"
This means but one thing sepa-
rate peace with Germany.
This would be the most disheart-
ening event in civilization. since the
Russians made their separate peace
with Germany. and Infinitely more
unworthy on our part than 1t was
on that of the Russians. They were
threatened with starvation and rev.
olution 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 1t
is proposed to enter into a separate
peace with Germany! In good faith
we pledged our strength with our as
sociates for the enforcement of terms
upon offending powers. and now 1t 10
suggested that this be Withdrawn.
Suppose Germany, recognising the
| something we cannot accept. Does
Senator Harding intend to send an
army to Germany to press her to
our terms? Certainly 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 1t would be for
the express purpose Of insuring a
German-American alliance, recogniz-
ing that the Allies-in fact, no nation
In good standing-would have any
thing to do with either of us.
This plan would not only be a
piece Of bungling diplomacy. but
plain. unadulterated dishonesty, As
we'll.
No less an authority than Senator
Lodge said, before the heat of recent
controversy, that to make peace ex-
cept in company with the Allies would
brand us everlasringly with dis
honor and bring ruin to U.S."
And then after peace IS made with
Germany, Senator Harding would, he
says. hopefully approach the nations
of Europe and Of the earth, prOposj jng
that understanding which makes us
a willing participant in the consecra-
tion of nations to q new relation-
ship"
In short, America, refusing to enter
the League of Nations (now already
20 ~ tUo notinn0l
and bearing and deserving the con-
tempt Of the world. would submit on
entirely new project. This act would
either be regarded as arrant madn ,ss
or attempted International bossism.
G. o. p. HAS TOO MANY VIEWS.
The plain truth is, that the Rcpub-
lican leaders. obsessed with a deter
mination to win the Presidential elec-
ton, have attempted to satisfy too
many divergent views. 1nconsisten-
cies, inevitable under the ,circum-
stances, rise to haunt them on every
hand, and they fnd themselves ar
hayed, in public thought at least,
against a great principle. More than
that, their conduct is opposed to the
ideaHsm upon which their party pros
pered in other days.
Illustrating these observations by
concrete IdCtS, iSt IL DC TeTneTnDeTeu
that those now inveighing against an
interest in affairs outside of Amer
lea, criticised President Wilson in un-
measured terms for not resenting the
invasion of Belgium in 1914. They
term the League Of Nations a mill
itary alliance, which, except for
their opposition, would envelop our
country. when, as a matter of truth,
the subject of a League of Nations
has claimed the best thought OF
America for years, and the League
to Enforce Peace was presided over
by SO distinguished a Republican as
Ex-President Taft, who. before
audiences in every section advocated
the principle and the plan of the
present League. They charge ex-
Fermentation, when we have as
historical precedent the Monroe Doc
trine, which In the very essence OF
Article x Of the Versailles covenant.
Skeptics viewed Monroe's mandate
with alarm, predicting recurrent wars
In defense of Central and South
American states, whose guardians
they alleged we need not be. And
yet not q shot has been fred In al