Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-25
COOLIDGE PRAISES
RED CROSS IDEALS
BEFORE CONVENTION
Deep Faith in Spiritual
Things, Tempered by Hard
Common Sense, to Live
President Says
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Neased Wire Service to The Journal.l
DOWNRIGHT 1921

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24.-Pres1-
dent Coolidge today made his first
long speech. Relatively speaking, it
was brief-not more than 1000
words, but it says more than the
chief executive has been willing to
say publicly since he took office.
Although there is no direct refer
ence to foreign policy in the speech
he delivered to the annual conven-
ton of the American Red Cross here,
there are principles enunciated in
it which will without doubt chart
the course of Mr.. Coolidge in world
affairs.
For one thing, Mr.. Coolidge is not
an out-and-out pacifist. He says
that while force is not the "ulti-
mate ruler Of mankind" neverthe-
less mankind has not yet, cannot
yet. discard the use of these forces"
He regards as significant that great
nations have agreed upon limitation
of armament and that civilization
is looming to rely more and more
upon moral force"
Believer in Conscience
Using the Red Cross idea as
symbol of policy of practical ideal
ism, the president argues that its
have been effective because
they have been directly to the con-
science of mankind without ANY
element of compulsion.
1.-THE ancient ideals of human
brotherhood, Of service, the applioa-
ton of the golden rule, of peace on
earth and good will towards men
are idle Dreams President Coolidge
says, unless they can be trans.
lated into practical action
At this point Mr.. Coolidge does
lot outli~ ,.-. course would be
me Of practical action" in the
present disturbed state of world af
airs but he saw guardedly that ''it
s necessary, on the one hand, to
lvoid the illusions of the Missionaries
md, on the other hand. the indif-
erence Of the selfish" This idea of
lot going to extremes in either di-
,ection but steering in the middle OF
he lane was the late President Har
ling's reiterated doctrine Of eau
ion. Mr.. Cool;, insists also that
each individual and each nation
owe their first duty to themselves"
and that beyond that there is "the
of the strong to serve the
weak but to administer such serv.
ce in a way that will not destroy or
degrade by making mendicants but
will restore and strengthen by max
ing character"
Warning for Europeans
This thought is in line with the
dea that the best thing that could
hanpen to Europe would be d reali-
zation that she must rely on her
self. Otherwise she might get into
the habit of relying on others.
MIR. Coolidge endeavors in his
speech to narrow down somewhat
the obligation of a nation. "The con-
slant need of civilization" he re-
marks, SIS for a practical idealism'
which does not undertake "to as
sumo responsibility for all hui
but when q crisis arises
docs not hesitate to go out and
make whatever sacrifice is neces-
sary to master the occasion"
Mr.. Coolidge declares that this
kind ot idealism was Illustrated IN
the late war when America went
to the rescue of Europe with treas
ure and men when their own liberty
and the liberty Of the world was IN
peril, but when the victory was Sc
cure, retired from the field unen-
by spoils, independent, I'M
attached and unhought, still con-
tinuing to contribute lavishly to the
relief Of the stricken and destitute
old world
Hands-off Policy
This in a nutshell an expression
Of the American governments policy
which indicates that Mr.. Coolidge
adopts almost wholly the attitude OF
his predecessor in believing that
America had done enough for Eu-
rope. There are those in European
who believe the peace
of the world was not secure when
American power and influence con-
tributed much to the chaos of recon-
strllction out of which Europe has
been struggling to emerge but the
view usually taken in the Washing
ton government since the war,
whenever the subject is raised by
Europeans, is that America has not
been responsible-a conflict of opin'
ion which time and history may
some day resolve.
The interesting thing is that Pres
ident Coolidge announces virtually
hands-off policy in Europe, at
least, until Europe shall help her.
self and work out her own salvation.
FIRST PUBLIC ADDRESS
BY PRESIDENT COOLIDGE
WASHINGTON, Sept. pa deep
faith in spiritual things, tempered
by hard common sense adapted
to the needs of the world, is the
kind of practical idealism that Is
represented in the history Of Amer
lea, President Coolidge said today in
an address before the annual con-
vention of the American Red Cross.
The people, he added, are not likely
to adopt any other course.
The idealism of which he spoke.
Continued on Page 6, Column 81