Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1923-01-25
.FUG|T|VES FROM
RESPONSIBILITY

TN that worldwide respect and
confidence which needs only to be
preserved"-it is Mr.. Harding
speaking-''in that worldwide re-
spect and confidence which needs
only to be preserved, we shall have
a lofty place in the great recon-
struction and we may reasonably
hope to see this mighty Republic
again ministering to the re-estab-
lishment of peace and all its pre-
cious blessings"
1t is Mr. Harding speaking, but
he is not discussing the foreign pol
icy of the Harding Administration.
Far from it, The Mr.. Harding who
gives expression to all Of these eX-
alted and benevolent sentiments is
presiding over the Republican Ma
tional Convention of 1916 and is de-
ploring the diplomacy Of Woodrow
Wilson, which inferentially had not
been "ministering to the establish
ment of peace and all its precious
blessings"
What does it avail to use some
of the strongest words known to
diplomacy time it is Mr..
Hughes speaking what does it
avail to use some of the strongest
words known to diplomacy if AM
bassabors can receive the impress
sion that the words are not to be !
taken seriously? 1t is not words |
but the strength and resolution be-
hind the words that count. The
chief function of diplomacy is pre-
vention. but in this our diplomacy |
failed, doubtless because Of its i'm
paired credit and the manifest lack |
Of disposition to back words with |
action"
AS we said before, it is Mr. J
Hughes speaking. but if the reader |
Jumps to the hasty conclusion that f.
Mr.. Hughes is discussing the al y
legged American protest against the |
occupation Of the Ruhr by the .
French he will err grievoUsly. The \
Mr.. Hughes who is speaking is not
the Secretary of State but the Re-
publican candidate for President in
1916, and in his speech accepting
the nomination he is depIoring the
OF Woodrow Wilson,
which obviously lacked all those
rugged qualities which Mr.. Hughes
admircs.
As Secretary Of et,>.3. Mr..
Hughes has no aversion 20 words
that "are not to be taken serious
~" nor is he especially concerned
that "the chief function of diplo-
macy is prevention" He for ex +
ample, knew for weeks that the
Poincare Government, for Political
effect at home, was about TO set
forth on the highly dangerous inva-
sion of the Ruhr. He knew that
this expedition might easily mark
the first step in a new European
war He knew that the United
States had an equal responsibility
for the situation that existed, for
without American Intervention in
the war there would have been no
reparation question. The conflict
would have ended in a stalemate,
Germany would have remained arm
ed and there would be no French
troops on either bank Of the Rhine.
Knowing all this, Mr. Hughes
spoke to the French Ambassador
about it. What he said we do not
know; because Mr.. Hughes prac
tees the most secret of all secret
The Ambassador seems !
to have transmitted the Hughes OBJ
to Paris and M. Poincare |
evidently made some observations
of his own. What they were |
we do not know, for the State
Department, after Mr.. Harding |
smothered the Borah resolution for !
an economic conference, nailed /
down the lid and has refused to
take the. American people into it's |
confidence. When Mr.. Hughes is a
candidate for president ''the chief |
function of diplomacy is preven-
tion," but when Mr.. Hughes is Sec
retary of State the chief function of |
diplomacy is evasion and silence.
Intrusted with the powers of gov
ernment, Mr.. Harding and Mr..
Hughes are fugitives from RESPONSE
bility. Had they stood firm, had |
they brought their diplomacy into
the open. M. Poincare and his
crowd Of pinchbeck militarists
would have hesitated a long time |