Evening star., 1923-05-03
EDITORIAL DIGEST

There has been very general dis
nent Court of International Justice as
result of President Harding's un-
qualified defense of American partici-
patton and the political debate which
resulted. Editors agree the entire
international question has been re-
opened. while the majority warmly
praise the executive for his courage
in leading the fight on the opposition
within his own party.
Arguing that "Harding's expedi-
ency is better than his logic" the
Newark News independently says he
holds that the world court is repub-
lican doctrine of twenty years stand
ing and debt of honor against which
party split would be cheaper than
Reputation. As to the league, Mr..
Harding will neither sanction nor
tolerate any approach to it. Hard :
tng's position is firm. But its firm
ness consists in his personal pledge.
IT rests finally upon e1pediency and
politics. not logic or conviction" 1t
likewise Is "a rocky road the Presi-
dent has elected TO travel" as the
Roanoke World News (democratic)
sees il, but if he can bring about
the measure of cooperation with the
rest of the world which following it
will insure. success to him." while
the Knoxville Sentinel (democraticJ }
believes lit looks like the President
will be forced to make a fight to a
finish with his foes within his party
AS leader Of his party, the Cincin-
natl Commercial Tribune republican,
characterizes his utterances as "suf-
dnf to; l.
all controversy" while the Syracuse
Herald Independently feels that.
having taken the right stand. and
in the right way. the President may
await further developments with
equanimity and confidence" The Har-
turn holds ''if world court was good
enough for the bitter enders' in 1904.
1912. 1916 and 1920, 1t ought to be
good enough now. The President
takes a practical view of the whole
situation and sets it forth in terms
widely approved" Commencing the
Presidents entire position. the Ros-
ton Post independently says: 1--WE
trust that this is at last the real
Harding. At any rate it is the best
Harding we have seen thus far. And
we are perfectly sure that he will be
applauded the nation through, not
only because he is courageous. but
because he is right Opposing this
opinion the Lynchburg News demo
cratic) argues "the,, President has not
aided his cause" in failing to approve
the league: "instead his deliverance
tends to accentuate the Importance
of the highly damaging Interrogation
point which has been uppermost in
the public mind since he first publicly
submitted his recommendation in re-
gard to the world court Of interna-
tonal Justice" In indorsing this
latter position. the Chattanooga News
independent democratic) insists "he
admits that the league is good
thing. is doing good work, but it
is not for us. And presumably that is
because he has finally decided against
it,"
Like all great speeches" goes on
the Cincinnati Times-Star (repub-
lican). "the Presidents speech goes
beyond the politicians to the people.
The men and women of America read
and ponder. And in their own way
they will let the statesmen and poll
ticians know their wishes. There is
no doubt that their ultimate decree
will be that the United States should
participate in the Permanent Court