, 1922-03-21
NATIONS MUST HELP THEMsELyEs.

party is in power, will not be drawn into the tanrled
web Of European politics." assures the National Re
publican. THE peace and prosperity of the Amer
lean people viii not be sacrificed in the vain hone that
through American participation in European intrigue
and conflict Europe may escape the consequences of
policies inevitably ending in economic disaster and
war. Powerless to deal with the causes of European
complications, we will not commit the folly of attemnt-
ing to shield European peoples from the consequences
OF stil cherished DIVISION, hatreds, rivalries and an
tagonisms deep rooted in the soil of the Old World.
Secretary Hughes has clearly stated the case in this
sentence:
"'This government cannot be unmindful of the clesr
conviction of the American people, while de=irous. as
has been abundantly demonstrated, suitably to assist
in the economic recovery of Europe, that they should
not unnecessarily become involved in Euronean poIit-
ical questions
"The American people very clearly indicated, in the
election OF 1920, that they rejected utterly the pro-
gram OF those who favored the abandonment of the
traditional policy of non-participation in European
politics. The American republic, uniting many states
In one, Is organized for peace. Europe. with its null
tphed states, inspired by age-old feuds, hatreds and
prejudiecs, is organized for war. So long as Europe
continues to be n crazy quilt of nationalities the nor
NAL state of Europe will be war; of economic war
eliminating periodically in military and naval con-
f'cts- Those who would make the peace and prosper
ity Of this country dependent upon the maintenance of
peace and prosperity on the other side of the Atlantic
are either deluded theorists or agents of alienism, will
ing to injure or destroy this nation in order that the
European purposes they serve may be furthered.
Secretary Hughes speaks for the American people,
TOO, when he declares that it would be futile for the
United States to undertake to restore the prosperity of
Russia while that nation Is governed by men who re-
pudiate the right of private property, maintain a gov
eminent based upon hayonets rather than upon the
peoples consent, and nvow hostility to every nation in
which freedom exists and theft and murder are NOT
robed in the habiliments of authority. Anxiety for
trade exploitation in Russia should not lead n seIf-re-
speeding nation to strike hands with despots who have
sworn eternal warfare against the fundamentals of civ
i~lization. If there are nations ready and willing In do
this, America is not among the number.
"The meaning of the election result of 1920 was
that the American people believe that American states
men should think of America, occasionally Mt least. in
the establishment of international relationships. The
conduct of our associates in the world war has not
been such as TO make us believe that altruism and a
real love for peace and justice are the dominating fen
lures OF European politics. In fact we have been led
to believe that the United States, as the result of the
sacrifices we made in the world war followed by n re-
fusal to accept any of the spoils of victory, has earned
more of i'll will than of favor and gratitude in Eu-
rope. The feeling among those who SO joyously well
coined our entry into TIE world war now seems to be
that unless we cancel debts owing by Europe I, Ms.
and representing financial aid which alone saved the
allies from defeat at the hands of Germany and the
whole continent of Europe from complete economic
collapse, unless we lend more billions and undertake.
at whatever sacrifice to guarantee the peace and pros
perfty of Europe, then we have been guilty of be-
trayal of trust and ought to be sued for non-support.
There are Americans to whom such theories appeal.
but, fortunately they are few in number and any man
in political life who undertakes to force upon this re-
public policies based upon such a conception Of Amer
lean duty and responsibility, will get a well nigh
unanimous mandate to retire from ofncs,
"rhe treaties now pending in the senate, the fruit
of the Washington conference, are entirely In harmony
with American traditions, and are expressive of the
historic American attitude in international relation
ships We are willing to bind ourselves to sit down
and talk over international problems with other pow
ers, rather than to resort to war in which all belliger-
ents, under modern conditions, are sure to be defeated.
We are not willing to sacrifice our right of decision as
to when we shall employ military and naval means of
enforcing decisions made by any nation other than our
own. The defeat of the treaties formulated in the
Washington conference would be a world calamity. It
would discredit the cause of those who stand for the
Washington policy, by proclaiming to the world the
entirely unwarranteG theory that this policy means a
selfish, isolated nationalism which Ia unwilling to go
just as far as American safety and welfare will per-
NIT, in an effort to promote the peace of the world.
Europe must take the lead in the solution Of Eu-
ropes economic and political problems. Uncle Sam
cannot forever be the worlds generous provider and
all round easy mark: While Europe continues to
swarm with soldiers and idlers, and European govern
ments continue to imagine they can perpsiunlly be
supported by what they can squeeze out of Germany
and borrow or take from the United States, there will
be no rehabilitation across the Atlantic. There will
be no certainty of continued peace SO long as the fifty
nations of Europe continue their policies Of economic
aggression, and in their Etate of economic insuficiency,
continue to cast envious eyes upon the territory and
trade of their neighbors. Europe will find the way
to peace only through that policy of political and eco
nomic unity which prevails in this republic. It is fu-
tile for America to try to help, by sacrifice of our own
safety and prosperity, nations which refuse to help
themselves"
FRANCE ETS HERS.