The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-11-19
SHALL WE SMITE
THE OTHER CHEEK


The League of Nations assembly
is treating the United States far
more considerably than the United
States treated the League Of Nations.
Gathered in Geneva in a history max
ing assemblage, the representatives of
forty-nine nations display nothing
but kindness toward the republic
which has failed them-a kindliness
which should bite more deeply than
anger. Yet underneath this concilia-
tory attitude two currents are visible
which may we'll make us pause to
consider how greatly we shall ffer
if we refuse to enter upon the joint
work of the worlds peoples.
The first of these is the evident dis
position of the league to go along up
on its work, whether we join or not.
There is hesitancy about taking up
particular problems which might bet
ter be handled after the United
States joins the League. Postpone
ment of such problems is an act OF
courtesy and expectancy. 1t pre-
sumes that the United States will not
forever sulk in corner On the fun
damental alternatives of tackline
world problems or wasting time II
platitudes, there is no hesitancy. The
league assembly is plunging into 1t:
work of organization with will, ant
the very controversies which develor
show that the league is living, gunc'
tioning entity. The assembly does not
act as if the life of the league depend
ed upon American participation.
Scarcely second in effect upon oul
material interests is evidence that oul
absence from the league is establish
ing a political communion between
Europe and South America. The only
open criticisms of the United State!
for failing to join the league have
come from South American delegates
The only suggestion that the League
should refuse to change its covenan
in order to please the United State
has come from South America. Tn
only hostility to the Monroe Doctrin
jis voiced by South Americans.
The slightest knowledge of huma
nature should tell us that the Leagu
of Nations takes a friendlier attitud
toward the United States today tina
it will take at any time in the future
if we persist in our short-sightet
mischief making policy. We slappe
the league in the face, and it has turn
ed the other cheek. If we slap
again, can we rely upon the persi'
tence of the Christian spirit which S
many of our league critics deny tht
it possesses?
Every time the league runs again!
an obstacle caused by the absence
America, the desire to bring us int
the league will be matched by an adj
!. ed grain of bitterness against US fl
q our dereliction. Let this keep up lor
t enough, and nothing will be left bl
e bitterness, augmented by suspicio
l The creation of the Root-Phillimo
n world court may be postponed for tv
S or three years, Geneve advices d
c clare, because the influence of tt
e United States cannot be exerted
d overcome obstacles which have aris,
t at the start. But the great barrie
Il the threatening cause of susplci
!. and condemnation, is the impasse Y
: have created in the disarmament pr
1t posal. The United States may easi
g take rank as the greatest militia
d power in the world (if the people W
# pay the billy but we shall pay the b
l. again in the hatred and fear Of e
% cry other nation on earth.
II These influences against Ameri
It are already beginning to operate.
If the first sign that the Republican q
is ministration through party pride
tends to humiliate the League of n
lg tions as the price of Americas G
~ trance, or that selfishness or inexc,
able provincialism make us unwilli
to do our share in he worlds work, G
already sunken prestige will slul
again. 1t will be infinitely harder
regain our lost position than it wo,
to maintain it. The damage is not !.
h. irreparable, but it threatens soon
4. become so.
er The true voice of America spc
ar through the throat of Theodore Ro
[r. evelt, who asked in 1900: "Is Am
ar ica a weakling, to shrink from
MS world-work Of the great world-pt
ers?"
IS He supplied the answer himst
nd "We do not stand in craven mo
nd asking to be spared the task, cring
Is as we look on the contest" De
er has silence and doubt would sile
,lpi Roosevelt if he undertook to rep
that proud utterance today, but
VS. spirit that has been Americas
be hers once more, and will be,
there ever was warrant for proela