Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-24
THE NATION HAS INDUCED ITS
OWN BAD CASE OF BLUES
Failure to Form Any Foreign Policy
Whatever Lies at the Root Of
Many Ills Of the Day

since Mr.. wilson returned WIN the treaty
Of Versailles in the spring of 1919
The debate limit has been outrageouSIy
exceeded. After two years of internal bick-
ering and foundcring here is nation, once
proud of the mcidity and directncss Of its
diplomacy. still at the crossroads. still
technically at war with Germany.
Mr.. Knox points to isolation, promising
herewith security and progress. Opposing
interests within his own party call for inter
national 90 operative bonds.
Mr. Hughes is said to have revealed in
detail last Tuesday the present state Of the
world to his fellow cabinet members, The
spectacle in numerous features must have
been sorry, but hardly less lamcntable than
that of an inert republic which neither
shares in the worlds responsibilities nor
rejects them.
The public it has been said. does not care
button for the intricacies of foreign asso-
Citations. Flags are waved. Washington
farewell address is reread, there is fervid
speech about America for Americans. World
solidarity is tiresome notion. Sbelye it,
forget about it, stow it away with un
realizable fantasies.
Let us set to work and show ourselves and
the rest of this planet how smart We are,
how energetic, how rcSOurceful. how super
latively great. Excellent indeed worthy
program. but why haven't begun itf
Wherefore the delay?
The unemployment problem is not secret
nor is the timidity of capital. The new ad-
ministration has inherited lean times. mani
tested before Mr.. Wilson went out of office.
War reactions have. of course. played
| their part. but it is mere sophistry to as
! cribe all tn" depression to such causes. Dis
satisfaction with this world may be justified,
! but even Americans are compelled to live
| in il, and must. however dStasteful the
task ultimately define their relationships to
affairs beyond the three mile zone.
The outside observer is naturally much
confused. n. Gordon Selfridgc. thr Lon
! don department store proprietor, who left
our shores for home the other day. is an
instance. The grumbling which is prevalent
! among many widely disparate classes Of
! Americans admittedly puzzled him. II am
surprised. said he, ITO find a note of
| pcSsimism in this country
| Mr.. Snlfridgc is returning 10 a country
| which suffered far more from the war than
our own and to civilization which is in
part wrecked That he failed to recognize
the particularly mischcvOus condition OF
doubt that afiiirts the richest and strongest
nation earth is proof of the comparative
immunity from that dsturber abroad.
The worst and the best nre pretty well
| known in Europe. Despite all tho appalling
difficulties. definite constructive forces have
been pu' into play there even in defeated
Germany.
Cynics cannot contend that there is much
| obscurity Of purpose. worthy or unworthy.
II is plain that FraunN seeks full recon
! penSc. more. for the harm done her by
Germany II is plain Britain hopes to en-
trench herself in new world position az
result of the war. + is plain that Ger.
mauy. as j. human. is seeking to diminish
the consequences Of her failure.
New policies. recognizing at least in part
III" effect Of now conditions are in :h"
making abroad. Ii several Of the nations
are distressed, If many Of their programs
arc rs vet imp"rfrrty realized. these GOV
clumrnts. Theoretically representing the
people. know at INV rate where they would
| like 10 stand. Policies are becoming rN-
plirt. They may bo right or wrong, but
there they are. But the rHlamitous tyranny
If doubt rules in America
It j. not many months since abundant
forecasts wer" made Of the application Of
remedy. lrre"ou"ilables on the subject Of
RI" I."ugu" Of Nations and the Versailles
treaty DrophcSird that the Knox resolution
pronounciug tho existence Of peace with
Germany would speedily be passed in Con
gr"sS and that it's sequel would b" a srpa
rate treaty with Germany.
But although Mr.. Harding has calIed the
national Legislature to convene uu April
I, tho program thu, far outlined is wholly
| domestic. Its promoters ure apparently
content with the HnumaloUs poNIi"n--if it
can b." called II position at all-now "rcu
! pied by the nited StntcS with regard 10
/ international affair. The illusion of our
detachment not only persists but, what is
more di>a>trous, there Is ridiculous notion
THAT "" ar" exempt from any pressing ur
r"~,Ily Of defining course Of isolation.
This newspaper has consistently disap
proved and spoken against u treaty scuttIing
policy II ma, had and retains faith in the
{ r,,outiul principles Of League of Nations
II is convinced that the majOrity uf the
dominant political party in the land favor,
an international association 10 forcstall
wars and to pr">"r," p"ac" within the limits
Of human fruilU. Yet il perceives los,
! harm in the must narrow minded Darochu
| policy than in no policy whatever.
II the public and its representative,
actually believe in throwing the treaty over
board pressing obligation Of speed "x.
.sIS. The ""Uu"mir. industrial and tnanria
structure Of the republic would then b.
| founded on fact,
Fortunately however. such signs Of polio,
Development aS are visible point 10 II broadc
and less Gntiuuutcd treatment Of the case
I II is rnmnrhcd in trustworthy circles tha
} ! Mr. Harding vas p"rfcctly well aware o
Mr. IIughos Sympathies for modhcc
, League Of Nations when the serretaryshiI
Of .tutc appointment was made.
The campaign rumors Of prompt with
drawal Of the American troop, from tn
/ Rhine have cvapOratcd. The bittcr-rndrr
p viii hay" Ia confront Formidable ocmcn
in their party which bcholds both prurticu
/ aud idcalstir values IN Il partnership o
nations.
i With the elimination Of Mr.. Wilson per
\ ,oualty as II factor in the situation the cas-
n can he argued on its merits in way pre-
, viousIy made difficult. Whether Congress /
\ pca sod or otherwise the international prob
lem Is bound to intrude upon. the comm
session.
| The Niviani mission will have reactions
| ! A British delegation 10 sound the curren