Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-28
The President Stands Firm,
Let the Country Subbort Hin,

: y
t ~ LANDING staunchly by his colors on the
World Court issue, President Harding
wins the appreciation of thinking mill
lions and also, no doubt, the heightened re-
spect of even those who most emphatically
dissent from his judgment. He would have
won neither had he yielded to the threaten
ings of the La Toilette group or to such Of
portunist pleas as those of Representative
Wood, chairman of the Republican Congress
sional campaign committee.
Senator La Toilette, along with his mates
among the Bitter Enders, appears to have
learned nothing and to have forgotten moth
ing in these last three changeful and instruc-
tive years. Having once opposed that sort
of international co-working which the League
of Nations represented, he feels bound to fight
Internationally and everlastingly against any
and all sorts, even if they are sanctioned by
his country's finest traditions and required
by her deepest needs The World Court idea
has had the hearty approval of American
statesmen of all parties. The present tri-
bunal embodying that idea was designed, In
marked measure, by former American SEN
ator and secretary of state, Elhu H. Root;
and now has as one of It's judges an Ameri-
can jurist and former counsellor of the state
department, John Bassett Moore. Settlement
of international disputes by the rule Of rea-
son and right rather than by resort to man
slaughter has ever been a favored principle
with American diplomacy and has commend
ed itself to American common sense as a
to putting that principle to use at time when
it is critically needed, the La Folettes and
the Hiram Johnsons threaten political de-
struction to the President who dares lead for
ward. Their policy passes understanding ex-
cept on the ground that they are blinded by
their own ambition. So set are they upon
dominating their party and so covetous of the
Republican nomination which they unsuccess-
fully sought in 1920, that they cannot tell
a great American opportunity and advantage
when they see it.
opposition stands Representative Wood. He
fears that the Presidents continued advocacy
OF Americas entering the World Court will
furnish La Toilette, johnson and their like
with an effective occasion for fighting Mr.
Harding's denomination and for making trou-
BILE all the way round. He fears disastrous
party split. He fears that 'the Republicans
would lose the advantage of contest with
the Democrats over the League of Nations.
He fears all the spectres which an anxious
politician, without the guidance of reasoned
and resoute convictions, can well imagine
An excellent institution he World Court may
be, runs this course Of thought, but of what
good is it to the G.. o. P. machine as vote
getter? And what will it profit man to save
his party's soul if in doing so he hazard its
f1eshpots? No political camp is free from this
sort of hucksterism, but Republican councils
now seem to have more of it than their ever
liberal share.
In rising above his party's plane President
Harding does more for its true advantage
than all it's schemers combined. Democrats
as a matter of mere partisan interest, well
might wish that he would yield to the threats
Of one faction and the fears of another, and
abandon the high cause to which he is COM
mitted; nothing would attest more strikngly
the bankrupt state of the Republican party in
leadership as we'll as in principles. But where
so much is involved for America and for civ
ilization as in the World Court issue, parti-
sanship must give way to greater things The
Democrats of the Senate took the part of wis
dom and of right when they voted well-nigh
unanimously in support of the Presidents
proposal upon its being first submitted last
February, while Republican Senators voted
almost solidly against it. Mr.. Harding, so
long as he leads in the right direction, how
ever slowly, is entitled to encouragement from
all forward minded Americans, regardless of
politics. He has taken an admirable stand
and is holding it resolutely. He deserves to
win in this battle against his pa*y's worser
| SELF and win he will with the countrys heart
and mind behind him.
0TJIroC ANTI