The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-26
A CASE OF BAD POLITICS

| AC dPPdA Clltiy oChOcldtt dLIcHlpt
of the Republican national commit
tee to embarrass the state depart
ment in its negotiations with foreign
governments can hardly have the ap-
prevail even of adherents of the
party. When this government and
France were about to reach an ami
cable settlement as to payments of
the cost of the American army of oc-
cupation a statement emanated from
Republican political headquarters to
the effect that the European nations
are trying to ''beat the United States
out of every penny due it on the cost
of its Rhine army" Of course, it is
| apparent that the purpose of this re-
markable document is to coerce the
president and the state department
and to curb their policy of partici-
pating in foreign affairs to the extent
of protecting our interests abroad
When political organization so far
forgets itself as to regard a president
as its own creature and deliberately
to hamper the administration to serve
political end, the whole situation
loses its partisan delimitations and
becomes a national matter which all
good citizens condemn.
1t is worthy of note that Mr..
Hughes is not at all dismayed by the
committees attitude and sharply re-
Dukes it's temerity in seeking to OBJ
struct the diplomatic amity with the
nations concerned. The Republican
political slogan of remaining COM
pletely aloof from foreign relation
ships may be all right for campaign
purposes, but when it comes to the
practical administration of our for
eign affairs, facts and not fancies
must be taken into consideration. The
sort of politics that would interfere
with our national duties or that would
embarrass our state department at a
critical moment in negotiations with
foreign power is not to be tolerated.
Those Republicans who fanatically
cling to the theory of complete isola-
ton for this country have hypnotized
themselves into condition where
they imagine the rest of the country
thinks as they do. What in reality
they are doing is trying to defend
their own record rather than to lead
the nation along forward lines. The
people of the United States perceive
that henceforth their future is indis-
soiubly linked with the futures of
other nations. If they prosper, we
shall prosper. If they are depressed,
then there will be a reaction in our
foreign markets. The people realize
also that there are moral obligations
resting upon us with respect to other
nations. If the nations of the world
join in a program looking to the gen.
eral world peace and betterment, then
this nation, which has always stood
for such ideals, cannot afford to be
the only one not cooperating in their
attainment.
Ideals may be remote from our daily
experience, yet steps towards their
realization have their practical value.
If we succeed in averting the threat
of war, then we have not only relieved
ourselves Of a heavy burden of war
expense, but we have also made per-
manent the profitable trade relation
ships by means of which we dispose Of
our industrial surplus and obtain from
abroad those commodities essential to
our contentment. If we join in world
court we have helped to give dignity
and authority to tribunal that is des-
tined profoundly to influence the ma
tons of the world towards higher
plane. The people of the United
States will not stand idly by and be-
hold this high opportunity made the
spoil and sport Of political machine.