Imperial Valley press., 1923-05-05
HARDING AND THE WORLD COURT


Maybe President Harding will not be able to
leave Washington this summer, after all to make
trip to the Pacific coast.
Just now the president is engaged in defending
himself from attacks being launched against him for
having declared emphatically in favor of keep
ing faith with the public.
1t would seem that this would not be a difficult
position to maintain, but we snail see how we'll ne
succeeds.
Not since he went into the White House has Mr..
Harding done more courageous thing than to quote
the national platforms of his party for the last 20
years with respect to establishing universal arbtra-
ton 1t would scarcely appear that what he did would
be more daring than to quote the Ten Commandments
For the platform declarations solemn promises,
and keeping promises is only common honesty But
how the display of common honesty will excite some
people is shown by the reaction to the presidents
formance. AS irreconcable political forces as Lodge
Borah and Watson together in denouncng the
president, and therefore the platforms that all have
approved during the past 20 years. This makes it ap
pear that "a new appraisal OF our political assets is
necessary.
In the opinion of the Press the president has done
than to reduce platform uterance to conscience
and common honesty. He has taken long and very
necessary step toward the permanent peace of the
world. The in which he declared for worlds
court of Justice where international disputes may be
taken for adjudication showed that he appreciated
how dangerous such position IS. He beat the table
with his fists and burned the bridges behind him.
told by the press dispatches And his understand
ing of the political danger seems to have been usti
fed for the elder statesmen and the junior statesmen
are taking violent exception But it was brave thing
least start in the right direction.
What are the people going to do about it? Are
they going to to political leaders to give up all
hope in any manner in any degree leading the
world away from the horrors and destruction and
wickedness of war? There is League of Nations
embracing about so of the nations of the world The
presidents. opponents fear world designed
peacefully arbitrate international difficulties may
lead into the League which is thing be stunned
pestilence, they say. But how, pray tell,
to get away from and into the paths of peace
if we stop thinking and talking and act
ing and begin to think peace, talk peace and act
peace?
Is it not about time that civilization should lift
its head out of the welter of blood long enough and
far enough to ask for peace?
War having thus far failed, utterly and woefully
failed to settle anything among the nations how can
there be anything lost by undertaking by processes of
reason, sanity ana humane efforts? We submit our
minor difference to judicial tribunals why not our
major questions?
Has the president by urging resort to civilized
methods placed himself outside the pale of civliza-
ton? If we to listen to his critics now that would
fair conclusion.
Our hope is the president will not conclude it is
required of him that he remain at Washington for
the purpose of striking back those who have sworn
opposition to the higher aspirations of the people, Let
him out to California and meet the people on
his way and venture to say that before his return
to the seat of government those who argue this great
nation has mission to perform in helping to en-
throne peace in court of arbitration will get their
emphatic answer