The Cordova daily times., 1922-10-25
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1922
A BAPTISM OF PATRIOTISM

Former Justice Clarke of the United States Supreme Court, is quoted as saying: ''The moral leadership which was so certainly within our country's grasp at the close of the war, is passing, plainly passing, to Great Britain, along with an enviable business prestige, springing from the courage with which the government of that country is meeting world problems, and the generosity with which it proposes to deal with it's former allies finan- cially ruined by the war. 1 do not like this. And, believing as 1 do in genuine American ism I intend to do all in my power to bring about the formulation of such a program as l am here suggesting, and to do all that 1 can to carry it into effect"
 What is the "mora leadership' to which former Justice Clarke refers, and which he says America has lost to Great Britain? Is the test of ''moral eadership'' participation in the League of Nations?
 The League is called an international organ ization for the preservation of the peace of the world. Really, it is an alliance dominated by few strong European powers for the pur pose of the mutual protection of the terri torial integrity and political independence ot its members.
 Current events in Europe demonstrate the
  peace or preserve the territorial integrity and political independence of its members. Great Britain ignores the league and is sending ships of war and armies to prevent the Turks from crossing into European Turkey and talk ing possession of Constantinople, now a neutral port. This course is pursued by Great Britain, not so much to protect the terms of the Versailles treaty to protect British interests, for British interests in Egypt and India and Mesopotamia are threatened by the military activities of the Turks.
 Is it ''mora leadership' that has prompted Great Britain to fl ght to retain her arms length control of Constantinople? Does Great Britain cling to the League of Nations and in vite America to join because of the formers ''leadershp?" The facts point in another di- rection
 "Moral leadership'' is measured not by what is gained in territory and power, but by what IS given in the way of unselfish sacri- flee. Weighed in these scales, the moral lead ership of the world, on the very day the armistice was signed was with America, not Great Britain
 Those who wall that America has surren- dered it's ''moral leadership" and urge Amer lca to join Great Britain's League of Ntaions. forget that the United States is now Great ,Britain's principal competitor in commerce. manufactures and finance. They forget that the United States is now Great Britain's prin- cipal competitor in commerce., manufactures and finance They forget that the British foreign office is eternally vigilant for the pro- tection and aggrandizement of British trade interests throughout the world. Why should the United States listen to the seductive pleas of those who, on the ground of "moral leader ship," are endeavoring to plunge America into the whirlpool of European politics.?
 sinister internationalism is firing the temples of the past, and seeking the destruc- tion of the priceless heritage which the strug- gles and sacrifices of the past have bequeathed to us The unmistakable lessons of history are ignored. Strange cries are heard in de- nunciation of liberty and law, and the nation