Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-04-13
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1922.
PRINCIPLE ABOVE EXPEDIENCY

Senator France, OF Maryland,
has done many things during his
career in the upper House OF Con
gress that have been contrary TO
the majority opinion in this State,
as well as among his colleagues,
but in one thing, at least, his atti-
tude will find great favor. That IS
his Jealous effort to have the
United States participate in the
Genoa conference and continue in
the movement to establish world
peace through council and friendly
cooperation among the nations OF
the earth.
The Administration refusal to
take part in this conference was
most disappointing,-all the more
SO, as it was very apparently based
on the ground of presumed politi-
cal expediency rather than on the
broad principles for world rela-
tionship laid down for America by
Woodrow Wilson, and which the
country is now coming to appreci-
ate more and more.
The Democratic party i'll Con-
grcss has, by way of contrast to
the obstructionism OF the Wilson
hatcrs, fortunately risen above the
charge of permitting partisanship
To Interfere with efforts TO end
war. How different is the attitude
OF the Democratic Senators from
that of the Republicans of the Sen
ate of two years ago.
In those days Woodrow Wilson
was trying 10 give the world the
benefit of Americas participation
in worldwide effort to end all
armed conflict. Did Republicans
lay aside partisanship and try TO
help the President of the United
States in that great crusade?
Be il said to the shame of some
men still in public life, they did
not.
But when President Harding
sent seven treaties TO the Senate
that together move i'll the same di-
rection as the League OF Nations
treaty, but cannot do nearly SO
much good because of their limita-
lions, the Democrats in some in
stances cast not one vote against
them. and in other instances cast
but few.
That is n record the Democratic
party should be proud OF. 1t
means that Democratic Senators rs
whole were big enough to put
country above the chance of being
in the opposition. Let it be hoped
the American people will remem-
Der the difference in the attitude of
Democratic Senators toward these
seven treaties and that of the Re
publicanS against the Versailles
treaty. 1t is a contrast between
AmericaniSm and party Selhshness.
The Versailles treaty was not
fought because of any fear lest ii
involve the United States in for
eign entanglements. That is for
gotten argument. used for the mo-
ment for partisan purposes. This
is evident from the fact that the
bittereSt enemy of the Versailles
treaty was actually one of the four
men who represented the United
States i'll the preparation of the
seven new treaties. and certainly If
the Versailles treaty could be de-
nounced as ''entangling." what can
be said of the new group of treat
les! Republicans who shouted
Remember Washington'S advice
the loudest knew at the time they
shouted that conditions had so
changed since Washington's time
as TO make it impossible for the
United States to live in isolation.
They have proved since the last
election and in their efforts in be-
half of the new treaties that they
were insincere in their attacks
upon the Versailles treaty. Their
objection 10 that treaty was based,
not on what it contained, but on
the. connection of President VIII
son with it. They know that is
true, And the country now
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