Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-14
The Portent of Brands
Defeat bu Extremists

71HE move or the m1l1tar1St Dloc In I'M
horsing Premier BRAND because he
would not ride hard and fast enough
| for their chauvinism Is disQuieting omen
| to thoughtful fr: ends Of France What If
the group that stands for revenge and ma
| tional aggression regardless of common
sense and International welfare has it's way?
What If the larger hopes OF the disarmament
conference are turned awry by sabre-rat-
tiers at Paris, nd the worlds future re-
| darkened Just when clouds Of hate and war
were lifting? Who would profit? Certainly
not the nation at whose door responsibility
| therefor could be laid.
| France, be it promptly granted, is justi-
fed in requiring full guarantees of security,
and is pursuing an altogether understandable
course in requiring full reparations. But
| the last road to security\is that which leads
away from the trd5t and goodwill OF others,
and the least promising means of getting
reparations is to crush out the debtors pro-
ducing and earning power. Incomparably the
greatest standing army on earth today is
under the tri-color of France, and what has
| it to oppose? The militarists and their col
leagues who forced BRAND from office be-
cause he stood for fair measure of coop
Grafton in international affairs, as distin-
| guished from stiff-necked, head-long selfish
ness, can expect no sympathy from the world
when amidst those millions OF bayonets they
pl6dQ 1OF SClll III JIG guns anu CdSI "AoI AAA-
| fluence they can against international re-
covery and reconciliation.
Theirs was the voice that broke so dis
cordantly upon the Washington conference
| some weeks ago. Agreement had been reach
| ed among Japan, Britain and America for
| capital-ship reduc' ion that would greatly les
| sen the armament burden, and all was sup
posed to be going well, when suddenly came
| a demand for extraordinary indulgences to
France. Mr.. Hughes spoke so positively and
was so emphaticaly reinforced by American
public opinion, that the demand, which could
never have been allowed without disrupting
| the conferences entire course, was soon
drifting to oblivion. But 1t was none the less
symptomatic Of extremist policy In France.
| 1t was one of a swarm Of waspish doings
with which BRAND has skilfully contended
but which at last have driven him from the
helm. He himself was not wanting in bold
and even threatening foreign gestures on oc-
casion. But these doubtless were meant main"
| ly for political strokes against his enemies
at home. More than once he proved his
sturdy common sense and courage In resist
| ing those who were for ruthless trampling
down of conquered Germany and for de-
! fance of the worlds opinion.
Other factors than hostility thus incurred
| may have entered into his resignation; the
| sequel will show But stanch friends of
| France in America and the world around will
pray that she may be spared any leadership
that would divorce her from true democracy
and commit her to an Imperialism little if
| any bet er than that against which she heroic
ally stood at Verdun and the Marne The
keen mind that is her true self cannot fail
to see how inglorious and how ultimately
foolish that course would be. Long ago her
greatest economists pointed out the peril of
trying to extort larger indemnity than Ger
many could pay, and the wisdom of cooper
alton for restoring Europe's broken fortunes.
1t is not the able French economist nor the
thoughtful French patriot but the intriguing
politician and chauvinist that counsels con-
trariwise.
Unhappily, it Is sometimes the glib tongue
Of the latter that catches popular attention
and for season msleads the popular will.
May no such calamity befall France and the
: world at this cruc al juncture of events. For
if militarism instead of liberalism be her
course, if churlishness instead of cooperation
mark her foreign policy, if the gutturals of
a pagan battle god instead of the gracious
voices of Jeanne dare should guide her
then would the peace-light now dawning upon
mans weary eyes be over-darkened and dan
gers grimmer than ever yet his civilization
faced summon him back to the trenches.