Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-11-13

fall, the standard may still remain
in the field and lead on to ultimate
victory. The Significance in Sat
urday'S gathering is that 1t repre-
scented not simply the partisan De
mocracy of many Of the particip-
ants, but a popular idea-an idea
that refuses to die, that is still de-
1uanding hearing, not as a pro-
position in impossible enthusiasm.
but as a proposition in practical
craftsmanship,
Whatever may be said OF Mr..
Wilson's method OF propaganda,
and however much some may re-
gret his continued tendency to de
nounce those who were not in full
agreement with him as to all the
details of the League OF Nations,
the great majority of both Repub-
licans and Democrats, we believe,
have come to agree with him as
to the general fundamentals on
which his postwar course was
based. He realized, as many 9th
erS in this country did not, the aw-
ful ruin wrought by the war, the
tremendous work OF reconStruc-
ton which it entailed, the new per-
lis that it had begotten. He saw,
as many failed to see, that this
work was a work OF common self
interest. too big to be done by Eur
ope alone. The situation demand
ed whole-hearted cooperation,
first to heal the CHASTITY and almost
fatal wounds which had been III
flicted on civilization, and, sec
ond, to prevent the recurrence of
such a dreadful and Worldwide
disaster.
Perhaps it Was mistake to
present the matter in pure terms OF
altruisn. of loiy idealiSm, even OF
humanity. Sufficient allowance
possibly was not made for base
and sordid human reactions from
the high spiritual plane OF the eX-
allied hours Of almost universal
heroiSm. But what seems TO be
becoming more and more a general
conviction every day is that only
by some formula OF international
cooperation is present health or
future safety to be attained. We
have gotten little beyond the sta
tus of the first ArimStce Day be
cause the necessity OF Such Coop
Grafton has not been fully under
stood.
Republican leaders after refuS-
ING to accept the League of Ma
tons idea recognized It's import
ance and validity soon after MIR.
Harding took office in calling the
Disarmament Conference. That
was a virtual admission that there
must be such cooperation. 1t APP
preached the problem from a
somewhat different angle and with
a modified program, but the basic
idea of friendly cooperative in
ternationalism was there. No lat
er than Saturday Mr. Harding in
his Armistice Day message eN-
pressed what is now the almost
universal view when he SAID;
81 think we have come TO real
ize. as a nation, that we cannot
hope to avoid obligations and re-
sponsibilities. often arduous and
burlensome, as part OF the price
we must pay for our fortunate re-
lationslip to the confraternity OF
the nation. 1t will be greatly to
the nation. 1t WI be greatly to
the national benefit, | am sure, il
those who most intimately parti-
cipate in the events OF the great
World War--and among them |,
of course, include particularly the
men of the overseas forces shall
always keep in mind the fact that
their noble service to their coun-
try and civilization has imposed
upon lis duty to recognize that
henceforward we must maintain
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