The evening world., 1920-07-23


Few there are who will disagree. Few will disagree
with most Of the sentences which Senator Handing
uttered
He discussed half hundred questions, many ot
shem important and fundamental. But he did moi
venture into the realm where opinions differ He
vas satisfied with the statement Of those phases of
the questions on which opinions are well nigh
unanissOuE
Sonorous pIatitude followed sonOrOus platitude.
One led 10 another with nicely calculated tranS-
uon seucle 10 preserve the dead level Of mOnotony.
II this speech evoked any enthusiasm among his
.odItors n must be accepted as tribute to his skill
Is speaker or TO his personality. There is no in
spsrztion In the printed speech. Indeed, there Is
only modom of Information
In spots he improved on the platform.
His Mexican policy will dSpezse Senator Pail
The liquor question he straddled as successfully
as did the party n convention
His reference to the tariff is perfnctory and lacks
conviction, even though he labels Il with "Amen-
canism."
On free speech, free press and free assembly his
sentiments are admirable. He does not favor re-
preston, but he rises to no heights In defense of
these rights
PlatitDde follows plztihude. Words cover pauc-
lily of ideaS The candidate prepared a card cata-
ogue of campaign issues, but he does not take issue
on them.
All this applies 10 the last two4hlrdS Of the speech
The first third Is more important
international relations Is the general topic, The
candidate Il not positive and definite. His stand Is
subject to revision, hrt he seems to align himself
with Senator Knox when he says;
IL Promise you formal and efeeiius peace 50
o4ickty as a Republican Congress can pass It's
declaration for a Rebablte0n ErecatiUs 10 Sten."
What sort Of peace this may be the candidate
does not specify
He does not explain With whom The peace viii
Be made nor on what terms
He rejects the peace that has been proposed and
aGTesd to and assumes that Germany will gladly
accept any peace which Republican Congress may
pass and Republican Executive may sign
II ulattered not whit to him that Senator Lodge
the Chairman of the Notification Committee, who
Sat before him, had proclaimed that the very Idea of
a separate peace "would brand US with everlasting
dShmor."
And having achieved tthS somehow state of
peace II seems that Senator Harding could
..sbedk aHrsssrvedly Of the ArIerieGH aspiration
and the RsbAbIicGB oOmmiitGl for an association
of nations cooperating IN sublime accord"
Hat IN hand, Amenca-speaIing through the Re
publican Party this time-can go to the nations now
oiied together in an association of nations the only
association of nations that stands ghoStOf chance
Of rising from ruins of war. America-Speaking
through the Republicans-may then say that al
though this Nation does not propose to come In or
serns which are agreeable to every other clvlizet
naion, vet we want to have another association anC
That ali other nations can come IN with US on term.
agreeable 10 us.
Thls seems to be the common sense nterpreta
ton of Senator Hardings plattudlnOus appeal t.
acoEseisncs," whatever that may mean. In this
Instance.
"7hs SDord DiH not niseoHstTae. We do no
mean to hold dlo2t Ws do not mean 10 ShAn
ss,ee res bonsibiliy Of This Republic 10 Dorld eivt
HsatoS. There Is no hate IN he american heart
va haze no elgy, no suspicion, no aversion to
any bkobs In the uorId,
Such ehldlike faith In the understanding of all tn
rest of the world Is touching but II not convincing
particularly when II follows Senator Harding's ow
statement of the suspicion with which he and tn
ssF2sbablieGns Of The Senate" saw 'ths structure 0
a.sOorld sabs1-eOVerBMsm taking OiSionGry form
and 'halfsd the barter Of Independent AnIsricG
e,ufnerce and in(laeScs Dhieb IL teas proposed I
exehanes for an obscure and unequal place in III
aSfreed eoOeTBmeHt Of the aorld.
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