The New York herald., 1921-09-07
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER I. 1891.
A Few Words About Neighbor.

This question, we assume for
working purposes, is asked in per-
feet good faith.
ITO THE New YORK HERALD VIII
you please inform me If there is an
American edition Of the New York
World. T. L. MURPHY.
FALL RIVER, Mass, September A."
1t gives this newspaper pleasure
10 assure it's correspondent in Fall
River that in the honest opinion of
THE NEW YORK HERALD every edition
of the World is an American edition.
We have entire confidence In the
fundamental Americanism Of our
neighbor under the brass dome, in its
devotion to constitutional principles.
in the sincerity Of it's belief that
even such performances and outgiv-
ings of its own as have probably sug-
gested the foregoing question from
Fall River are inspired in every case
by loyalty to American ideals.
The Worlds patriotic services have
been many and great and oftentimes
rendered with fearlessness as well
ae a vigor of utterance which COM
mand general respect. The ability
Of its editorial articles is recognized
by all competent judges of good writ
ing. 1t has frequently risked circu-
lation and prestige for the sake OF
conviction. The intensity of its
Democratic partisanship in domestic
politics is something with which
those who do not concur may dis
agree and even abhor without
thought Of imputing un-Americanism
to the paper, for within the boun-
dairy lines of undeniably good Ameri-
canism there has always been and
always will be room for the widest
and sometimes the bitterest differ
ances of opinion as to American
policy and American method.
How, then, does 1t happen that q
great newspaper, concerning which
III that has just been said may be
aid with as much truth as it Is here
affirmed with neighborly qualification,
can so persistently misdirect the op-
erations of its intellectuals as to
incur the suspicion or warrant the
doubt Implied in Mr.. MURpHY's
question.
The answer, IL seems to us as q
neighbor and friend. is for psy-
biology rather. than politics or logic
% determine. Having made its in
tial mistake regarding the Covenant
and the League and the artfully dis
suised proposal to substitute for
american sovereignty a scheme OF
International upergovernment. the
World seems to have been led away,
;radually and perhaps unconsciously,
urther and further from its real
self; first by ordinary political par
tisanship; next by infatuation for
President WILSON'S personality and
phrases next by an obsession of
hatred for everybody and everything
II believed to be inimical to Presi-
lent WILSON'S dreamings and its avn
iatiocinations, and, finally, by p:ide
os opinion individual to itself and
capable OF going to any extreme ex-
cept the extreme OF acknowledge
nent and apology.
In other words, President WILSON
ed the World into an impasse from
which it has not yet been able to
fleet a dignified retreat. So while
The World has been chasing the rain
bow and refusing to turn around, it's
legs perhaps have wandered far into
the odious borderland and its feet
have become mired in the sophistries
OK international idealism; but its
heart, we stoutly maintain, has re-
mained throughout the incident a
loyal and true American.
We accordingly beg leave to In
form Mr.. MURPHY of Fall River that
In such matters II is the heart that
defines position, not the legs or feet.