The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-27
SOME OTHER WAY.

L VAIs
In his speech OF acceptance. Senator
Harding raises an issue with himself
and a majority OF republican senator's.
Before assailing the position OF Presir
dent Wilson or Gov. Cox so viclously,
therefore, he ought to make some ef-
fort toward adjusting his own contra
d!ctions. When he has thoroughly ex-
planned why he was wrong when voting
in the senate and why he is right in
taking an opposite tack in his accept
aice speech, he may not have much
time left to set the democrats right.
The logic OF Mr.. Hardlng's reasoning
is not very compelling. That he now
utterly repudiates the league Of nations
is beyond controversy. He clearly seeks
to avoid all obligation. 1T is better"
he declare, ito be the free and disinter-
estod agent OF the international justice
and advancing civilization with the
covenant OF conscience than be shackled
by a written compact which surrenders
our freedom OF action and gives to
military alliance the right to proclaim
Americas duty to the world" Yet he
once offered the Lodge reservations to
prevent this alleged surrender.
1t Is evident. however. that Mr.. Hard
ing Is even yet not certain of his POSI-
ton. After he gets congress to adopt
a simple declaration Of peace, he prom
iRes to approach the other nations OF
tho world In an effort to reach some
sort Of an understanding which shall be
different from the league of nations.
Why do this II written compact" is
n nhfa1tfnnahIa9 n announcing fhiq
purpose. the senator lays his sincerity
open to serious question. BY implica-
ton, he confesses that some kind Of
world cooperation In the interest OF
peace 10 necessary. yet denounces the
only plan under consideration. His vote
for reservations was much moro logical.
The senator, however. is merely play
ing upon words. He is trying to hold
with the hare and run with the hounds.
Having allied himself with the implaca-
bles, he hopes by means Of this indefi- |
mite assurance to hold the support OF
those who believe in the possibility Of
promoting peace and disarmament by a
method of concert among the nations. |
Most of the countries of the world have |
accepted membership in the league Of
nations. Just how Mr.. Harding will pro-
coed in persuading them to dissolve this |
relationship and adopt some new plan
which he will propose he, Of course.
does not say--perhaps does not know.
AS already intimated, the safest In
ference to be drawn from Mr.. Harding's
speech is that he Ia not to be taken
seriously. There may be some justiflca-
ton for attempting to limit the extent
Of the country's participation In a
league already organized, until more
fully assured Of its beneficence and eff
cacy, but there is none In the world !
for asking that other countries disrupt |
1t and join with us In some sort OF new |
experiment OF the nature OF which even
we have not the faintest conception.
II we feel unwilling to assume the
full measure of responsibility which an
oxtreme construction of the league char
ter might imply, let us at least not I'M
dfrtake to embarrass others in their I'M
dOrtaking. Let us cooperate as far as !
we can-if we can't go all the way
and not pull back against the breechlng
There is assuredly some things we might !
do in concert with other nations-under
most any league plan better than by
setting ourselves up in opposition.
But Mr.. Harding has no thought out |
Plan to propose In lieu Of the league
Of nations, His intimation Of such an |
intention Is merely so much chloroform |
administered to those who halt at a |
policy OF bigger armies and navies. uni |
versal military service and possible |
meddling in and war with Mexico. There |
Is about as much probability of his |
making an earnest attempt to enlist the |
nations in some other sort OF peace |
scheme as there once was Of the keep |
Ing OF the pledge to promote interna-
tional bimetallism
I II men like Mr. TAFT and Herbert |
Hoover. Prof. Lowell. George w. Wick
ersham and others are satisfied with Mr. |
Harding'sa treaty position, they are
more easily pleased than they have
been given credit with being. But all |
these are with one accord maintaining |
an a1ouuent aiIapnA