The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-26
The eospel Of Common Sense.


For common sense people WHIP have
affiliated with the Democratic and Re-
publican parties and who hive At times
had the lonely feeling that their leaders
have been trying TO lead them away
from the practical paths of moderation
into all sorts OF political Wild goose
Chases, We submit rs a text on the is
she of the present moment the follow
ing declaration nom the London Spec
tRtor:
Almost any sacrifice is worth
making which will induce the
Americans to help. and 10 help
intellectually. Here. II anywhere
II Is true that the new world Will
be called in to redress the balance
of the old To put IL in quite plain
terms. the Americans must he told
that II they will only join the
league they can practically name
their own terms And let us say
In parenthesis that as soon as the
presidential election is over, and
we know the complexion OF the po-
lstical forces that are going TO pre-
vail at Washington, not merely AT
the White House, but also at the
Capitol America should be officl-
ally asked TO suggest such mnfllh"
cations OF the existing covenant rs
would enable her TO join. That WIN
be far better than to have new
conference for the re-drnfting Of the
league.
We consider that this statement con-
veys meaning both TO Democrats ana
TO Republicans,
Democrats may take notice that Eu-
rome Is not comforting a favor upon
them b. allowing them to join IN win
the other powers In league OF nations
1t Il not a eondescending proposition
whose terms are so fixed that We have
to take 1t or leave It just as u stands.
The Republicans In the senatorial de-
hates had a better idea than did some
nemocrats about the dignity OF thus
nation in the councils OF the nations
her participation was solicited not ~
.rudea from without, and she cooiu
name the terms.
president Wilson as one Of the maxi
ers Of the covenant felt duty-bound TO
carry II as II stood but no such oph-
cation rested on the senators, VINO were
sovereign sienatories to tho treaty, ana
owed nothing abroad,
The present Democratic candidate
carries under his hat no illusions ABOUT
the perfect propriety Of attaching to me
covenant such reservations as shall
make il safe COR America. Some OF his
followers unhappily do. They are so
agreeable that they cannot bear TO
think of causing one heart-ache to
single European strong man.
But the present Republican leader
ship has a great deal to learn, A great
English statesman said that politics
was the art Of the possible, but the
idea has not penetrated those respon-
slble oin their conferences" for the pro-
fession Of faith contained In Senator
Hardings speech OF acceptance.
In that speech the Republican candi-
date pitched the present league over
board as hopeless beyond the possible
ity Of reform. and declared Tor new
conference and a new league
He might as we'll have called for a
new heaven and new earth.
There are many liberals who still sur
vive in Europe, as the case OF the Lon
don Spectator testifies. These no lon
ger entertain such extravagant ideas OF
what the league is capable OF doing as
formerly, but they stll think It capable
of doing something, and they think It
needs our participation The part OF
decency requires that OF US.
We are not constltuuonally lit for
such q league as was at first proposed
which was to take the sospter OF power
in its hands and govern tho whole tan
gled scheme Of things here below
There Is another league we will com
init ourselves to--a league that assem-
bles, advises, publishes such league
is no superstate; the sovereign power
stays Just where 1t was before the
league was dreamed OF; but many po-
litical experts assure us tina, 10 will
be chief agent in bringing abou. mat
era of open covenants openly arrived ar
of international conduct in tho H,;ht
Of the public conscience OF the world
which all good men desire