Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-16
Letters to the Editor
hardlna.s League stand

10 the Editor OF the BVerirp Public Ledger:
sir--During recent campaign In the
gouth when Senator Harding was CLOSING
his Kentucky campaign, the Republican can
didate took a Arm stand against the League
Of Nations, stating his conclusive views In
regard TO 81. In this address and similar
addresses throughout the country the sena-
tor made clear his obligations TO Article \.
sAyinw that they we're absolute and unduah'
fled: that whenever certain specific circum.
stanecs arose, no matter how much we might
rsaret II. we would have to keep our promise
or be dlshonored.
These were his words a. he faced large
Assembly Of eafs- faces; Let no one be de-
oeived; the Cho,cc would be between Two
thinRs--war or dishonor.
He was severely attacked by Governor Cox
in an address at Louisville. In when the
Democratic candidate accused Harding OF
taking a selfish stand in regard to the
league, Has Harding been Justly accused Z
DO we the people OF the United states OF
America. hold trust In the covenant or me
constitution Of the United Statss-the con-
stitvtion which our forefathers 50 wisely
and shrewdly constructed? Those men OF
Infinite power who saw n great nation IN
the making and 80 constructed grea: doc
ument for the protection OF that nation.
People will say: Why listen to the preaching
of those dead and gone--why lie ourselves
and become slaves 20 tradition But could
this view Justly and wisely be called tradi-
t,on, n could not The words of these men
have passed up through the generations, I'M
pressing upon US the constancy ana steao-
fastness OF such n document.
In the attack against Harding Cox said;
'If we were to heed the preaching OF the
Prophet Of Marion, we might lust as well
make our Declaration Of Independence
scrap Of paper: we might just as wen burn
all our grea. Americana, past and present.
in efigy."
was /, not one Of the greatest Americans
who ever lived. ono OF the greatest states
men our nation has ever known, that warned
us asainst .hls very thing? He, George
washington, the father OF this nation. said:
The great rule Of conduct for us In regard
TO foreign nations Is IN extending our COM
msrcial relations. to have with :hem as
little connection as possible. 30 far we
have already formed ensagements. Let
them be fulfilled with perfect good taith.
Here let us stop. Europe has ses OF pri-
mary interests which 70 us have none or
A very remote relation: hence che must be
enRa9ed in frequent controversies, the causes
OF which are essentially foreign TO our con-
Germs. Therefore Il muse be unwise for US
"a implicate ourselves by artificial ties In
the ordinary vicissitudes Of her politics or
the ordinary combinations and conclusions
of her friendships or enmities.'
In another clause Cox said: I'VE migho
Just as we'll begin now to train our future
citizens TO believe that greatest among US
are those who recognise selhshness rather
than service as .he creed OF America
We have not recognized selhshness in the
past We had no League Of Nations to
control our interests. Why. then. can We
not continue this in the fu.ure7 We have
paid our moral debt to France and played a
great factor in making tho world place
ht 10 live In. We made the supreme sac-
rlfce shoulder to shoulder with our Allies,
spiIiinE American blood 20 save democracy.
DID O league OF nations exist then7 America
spent millions OF dollars before. during and
after the world war 20 that the peoples
OF the world would be saved from starva-
tion. Is this selhshness7
AUSTIN S. KIMBIE.
= Philadelphia, October IA. 1920.