Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-19


n eighty winters, sails back to France
he can reflect with much satisfaction
If also with some Disappointment, upon the
visible results of his American visit. The
warmth of his welcome came as glow OF
traditional friendship for his country and OF
hearty admiration for himself. But there
was more than response OF sentiment;
there was also quckening of thought. Lis
tening to this sage from the land of St.
Mihiel and the Argonne, Americans pom
dered anew the why of Il cir part in the Great
War, the wherefore of the worlds beshad-
owed prosperity and menaced peace today.
They showed no more sympathy with Gallo
evinced an awakened and practical interest
in the common problems of Europe. In
bestirring them to that interest, Clemenceau
d. vast deal mort for France than if he
hal won American approval for her PRIMERS
threat to seize thel Ruhr-more for the
permanent good of France and of the world.
than in refrsining from special pleas. He
proposed to us no definite line of action n
any international issue; he asked no particu-
lar aid for his country in any of her divers
troubles He did ask that the American
people think and think hard about what is
going on across the Atlantic. He challenged
I, froo IN
their sense of Duty Even the opposition
which he provoked was wholesome in its re-
action Better nation agog with strife
over the urgent world questions of the hour
than a nation Indifferent to them. The
likelihood is, however, that intent and sus-
tanned thinking will evolve convictions, lid
at length policies, on which the rank and
fila will unite. Steadily in that direction
seems the present trend; and to the extent
that Clemenceau has fastened it, he has
done America memo. able service.
1t was a keen observer of human nature
who remarked, "While men will often sacri-
flee their ideals for their pocketbooks, and at
they are not long enchanted by course
which sacrifices their pocketnooks and their
ideals at the same time" AS practical
people we of this country coming to see
that the policy of ignoring the worlds
trout'-- is economically unsound; and as a
people whose history has had it's beginning
in, finn IN
ideals, we are coming to see that such poll
cy is morally unsound. The nations strug-
Cling with difficulties which they evidently
cannot master unaided our best custom
ers in foreign trade and also are our debtors
to the extent of billions Of dollars If they
are not able to buy, our producers in field
and factory are cut OF from a prime source
Of prosperity. If they are MT able to pay,
our treasury is the loser of gigantic sums
If they do not keep peace with one another
or If from any cause whatsoever they bee Jme
involved in a Europe-wide Notwithstanding
war, our interests inevitably will suffer and
our rights, in all likelihood, will be chal-
West; there is not manufacturer, North
or East; there is not merchant or working
man the country over, whose pocketbook
is not involved in the settlement OF
European problems and the establishment OF
world equity and peace. And there is moi
an American soldier of all that were manned
or blinded in the Great War, nor Of all thai
fell wounded unto death, whose faith will
not stand betrayed until the Ideals for which
they fought are indicated.
Why did we go to war? Clemencear
drove the question home to tagging mem
cries. Was it to safeguard our threatened
economic interests? Then, obviously We
have not yet attained to that objective. Was
~ to make the world safe for democracy
Then, assuredly, there is work for us still