Evening star., 1921-06-01
Editorial Digest
Why We Went to Wa.

WOy VIC We0t 70 W3ts
President Harding's tribute TO thu
dead. spoken at Hoboken over thu
coflins Of the men who fell in France
has been ssised upon by . number o.
| writer's as . denial Of Ambassador
Harvey's assertion that Americs
fought the war for self-interest only
Several newspapers parallel" thu
statements OF the two men; Harding'i
declaration that our soldiers "sav
democracy challenged and defended
It," and Harvey's assertion that the.
| were sent solely to save the United
| States of America In these two
statements some writer's profess t
see contradiction. which, however
:, Harvey reference as a truthful esti
war.
: The Philadelphia Record (independ
ent demoeratic) prints the two quo
| they. Mr.. President" see civilization
; threatened and then rescue it? i
; then continues: '.rhs man to whom
] you gave the most important Of al
oipiomatlc posts lost no time aftei
/ world that they did not. Is there on,
. the President said is the truth ant
ii that " What Ambassador Harvey sale
. Thus we have "the issue sh.rpl,
agent" says the Lynchburg New.
(democraticl: Upon the facts in
volyed Harding stands. with Wilson
and Harvey against the twain" ant
{ as as the bsrooklyn Eagle undependen'
1 0am9ntalIv h a
q gag" should be applied to Harve,
II he is not recalled.
! The Columbus Dispatch Gndepend
eno feels that the President. b,
means Of his speech. definitely re-
for that offensive sentiment" which
| his representative gave voice to in
/ London. and likewise administered a
\ merited "rebuke." To the New Bed.
! FORD (Mass) Standard (repubiican
the Presidents statement "embodie,
the splendid truth where that Of
| comparison. the Roanoke World
News (democratic) thinks the words
OF the narrow-minded and victoui
ambassador are hollow. absurd and
insulting. In fact. the Providence
ciares that the speech "slandered u'
| ALL" and the Lincoln (Neb) Star Tin.
| dependenC. which believes that Har.
vey completely -misrepresent0' Amer.
lea. thinks that his declaration con
cerning our entry into the war IL
the greatest Misrepresentation OF
Americans would have just cause
ITO turn their faces from the worlt
\ In shame II they were true. To say
! that the. only motive this countr,
| save humanity from the rule Of
! might was to save our own skin IL
mockery Of Righteousness and jus.
tice. an insult to every mother who
! had son cross the treacheroui
waters of the Atlantic"
approving Of the Harvey attitude
the Schenectady Gasette democratic
Thinks that he Is merely splitting
hairs when he makes the sorry at.
tempt At a distinction between Amer.
ica's taking part in the war to hell
| save herself" 1t continues:
ut is q silly trick Of language
sometimes used to catch the ear Of
{the unthinking mob. The distinction
does not bear single moments
; analysis as a difference. In the same
country, but for his home; not fol
John Smiths children. but his own
But 1t was ages ago when, IL ever
| these were two acts and not one"
But to the Omaha News (independ
kent) the statements were not onl,
for there was mo immediate menac,
ITO the United States from which il
| was necessary to save The country,
and the great mass of men who wen
overseas were buoyed up by the hrn
| conviction that there was a big idea
of the Syracuse Herald Independently
which believes that "the people re
sponded to the stirring invocation" ol
the championship Of "the right o.
mankind"
While the republican New York
Herald is sure that Harvey's reason
for our entry into the war ID not helt
| democratic Birmingham News reflects
the opposite view. Every body" i
tersely remarks. '.who Is given =
thinking knows that Harvey has tols
the truth. There has been . deal too
much Of high sentimental f,uodaS o.
whom the. News refers Is credite.
with similar sadly cynical" ideas b!
the San Francisco Call independently
! which. it thinks. are proof enough
of the fact that Americans do not be
lieve 80 unanimously" the things to
Some day" adds the Janesvill
lGazette (republican) We will "all" b.
| willing to admit that I'VE went t
twar to preserve the United States.
Harvey's statement, therefore. tn
Phoenix Republican Undependen
progressively believes. should be "com
mended" for its absence of bunk.
when with refreshing frankness /
tells us we took up arms Ito save ou
own skins"
! The San Antonio Express (independ
I! ent democratic) feels that Mr.. Harve,
| probably sensed the American feel
| ing as unerringly as any man of tn
| time" when he indicated that "Ameri
cans would have remained at home" /
| Germany had not provoked interven
ton" There is no doubt" in tn
mind of the Bay City (Mich.) Time
independently that our object in par
| ticipating was MISREPRESENTATION" an,
l the Lexington Leader (republican
declares that 'the historical fact
justify Mr. Harvey"