The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-08-07

eXpedlency.
Senator Harding makes this new
pledge of policy in behalf of his
party:
81 promise you formal and effective
peace so quickly as a republican Con-
gress can pass its declaration for a
republican executive to sign"
This means but one thing-a sep
arate peace with Germany.
This would be the most dishearten-
ing event in civilization since the
Russians made their separate peace
with Germany, and infinitely more
unworthy of our part than it was on
that of the Russians. They were
Threatened with starvation and revo-
luton had swept their country. Our
soldiers fought side by side with the
Allies. So complete was the coalition
of strength and purpose that Gener-
al Foch was given supreme command,
and every soldier in the allied cause,
no matter what flag he followed, rec
ognized him as his chief. We fought
the war together. and now before the
thing is through it is proposed to en-
ter into a separate peace with Ger,
many In good faith we pledged our
strength with our associates for the
enforcement of terms upon offending
powers, and now it is suggested that
this be withdrawn. Suppose Ger
many, recognizing the first break in
the Allies, proposes something We
cannot accept. Does Senator Hard
ing intend to send an army to Ger
many to press our terms? Certainly
the allied army could not be expected
to render aid IF, on the other hand,
Germany should accept the chance
we offered of breaking the bond it
would be for the express purpose of
insuring German-American alliance,
recognizing 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, 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 everlastingly with
dishonor 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, proposing
that understanding which makes US a
willing participant in the consecra-
ton of nations to a new relation
ship"
Ia short, America, refusing to en-
ter the league of nations (now als
ready established by twenty-nine ma
tions) and bearing and deserving the
contempt of the world, would submit
an entirely new project. This act
would either be regarded as arrant
madness or attempted international
bossism.
The plain truth is. that the republi-
can leaders. obsessed with detern1i-
nation to win the presidential cleo
tion, have attempted to satisfy too
many divergent views. Inconsistent
cies, inevitable under the circum-
stances, rise to haunt them on every
hand, and they find themselves array
ed in public thought at least, against
a great principle. More than that,
their conduct is opposed to the ideal
ism upon which their party prosper
ed in other days.
Illustrating these observations by
concrete facts, let it be remembered
that those now inveighing against an
interest in affairs outside of Amer
lea, criticised President Wilson in
unmeasured terms for not resenting
the invasion of Belgium in 1914 They
term the league of nations military
alliance, which, except for their oppo-
sition, would envelop our country,
when, as a matter of truth, the sub
ject of a league of nations has claim
ed the best thought of America for
years, and the league to enforce
peace was presided over by so dis
tinguished republican as Ex-Presi-
dent Taft, who, before audiences in
every section advocated the principle
and the plan of the present league
They charge experimentation, when
we have as historical precedent the
Monroe doctrine, which is the very
essence of Article X of the Versailles
covenant. Skeptics viewed Monroe's
mandate with alarm. predicting re-
current wars in defense of Central
and South American states. whose
guardians they alleged we need not
be. And yet not shot has been fired
In almost one hundred wears In pre-
serving sovereign rights on this hem
isphere. They hypocritically claim
that the league of nations will result
in our boys being drawn into mill
tary service, but they fail to realize
that every high school youngster in
the land knows that no treaty can
override our constitution. which re-
serves to Congress. and to Congress
alone, the power to declare war. They
preach Americanism with a meaning
of their own invention, and artfuIly
apDeal f0 self Sh and Tar.oyriuaiaI cy,1,.;+