Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-14

nandments those he was not inclined
to keep. Obedience to the law is the
first duty Of every good citizen,
whether he be rich or whether he be
moor. enforcement of the law against
every violator, rich or poor, is the
solemn obligation of every official.
But all that we do will be un-
done. all that we bIild will be torn
down; all that we hope for will be
denied. unless in conjunction with
the rest of mankind We can lift the
burden of vast ornaments which
now weighs upon the world and
silence the recurring threat of war.
This we shall not do by pious wishes
or fervid rhetoric. We will not con-
tribute to it as a nation simply by
offering to others, no more concern
ed than ourselves, our unsolicited ad
vice.
providence does not give the
gifts Of peace 10 those who will not
labor to achieve them. In the name
of the Democratic party, therefore,
I promise to the country that no
enterprise sincerely directed to this
end will lack our approval and CO.
operation.
I'VE favor the world court in
sincerity and not merely for cam
paign purposes or as an avenue Of
escape from the consideration Of
larger questions. We believe it a
real advance toward the peaceful
settlement Of International disputes;
an advance from which America
cannot turn away without proving
herself false to the teaching of a
century.
I'VE wish to see America as a
nation play her part in that recon,
struction of the economic life of
Europe which has proven itself so in
dispensable to our own well-beinG
and prosperity.
I'VE are ready for any conference
on disarmament, provided it is 81
general in its membership and so
wide in its scope as to be able to
deal broadly with so broad a
theme
New Foreign Policy Promised
we do not and we cannot &C
cept the dictum unauthorized bv any
expression of popular will that the
League of Nations is a closed Incl
dent so far as we are concerned. We
deny the right of any man to thus
shut the gates IF the future against
US and to write the fatal word
Never" across the face Of our for
eign policy.
My own beliefs on this particu-
lar subject have been so FREQUENTLY
avowed, and are L believe so well
understood, hardly to need repe-
titiOn.
II yield to no man in my resolve
to maintain Americas independ-
ence, or in my unwillingness to in
VolVe her in the quarrels of other
nations. Yet, from the day when
the proposal was first put forward /
believed that American duty and
American interests alike demanded
our joining, as a free and equal peo-
pie, the other free peoples Of the
world in this enterprise Nothing
that has since occurred has shaken
me in that belief. On the contrary,
the march of events has shown not
only that the league has within it
the seed of sure survival, but that it
is destined more and more to become
the bull<ward of peace and order to
mankind.
"F'ifty-four nations now sit around
it's council table. Ireland, [ rejoice
TO say. has shaken off her long sub
lection, and once more a nation has
made her entry into the league the
sign and symbol of her glorious re-
birth. The time can not be far dis
tant when Germany will take the
seat to which she is rightly entitled.
Russia, Mexico and Turkey will
make the roll, with one exception,
entire and complete.
Independence Maintained
None of the nations in all this
frightening list have parted with
their sovereignty or sacrificed their
independence, Or have imperilled by
their presence their safety at home
Or their experience with the fears of
those who dread a different fate for
the United States.
There are, in this country, sin
cere minds who oppose both the
world court and the league and, in
deed, any organic contact with other
nations, because they wish the Unit
ed States to live a purely oppor-
tunist life. They wish no obligation
at any time to any other powers,
even the slender obligation to con-
suit and to confer.
II respect such opinions, even
though l do not share them; for, on
sheerest grounds of national safety.
[ cannot think it prudent that the
United States should be absent
whenever all the other nations of the
world assemble to discuss world
problems. But | must be permitted
to doubt the intellectual honesty of
those who profess to favor organized
International cooperation for peace
and who studiously turn away from
the only agencies yet created to that
end.
I'm my own thought concerning
the league, two aspects of the ques
ton have been constantly before me
| have never found it possible great
ly to concern myself as to the terms
of our adherence or the language in
which those terms might be phrased.
Deeds are of more consequence
than words. Time and custom and
the laws of natural growth will have
their way in spite of language, pro.
vided a sincere purpose lies behind
them. Whatever the character in
which we shall finally appear, it is
the fact of our presence that will
count.
People Must Judge
Neither have I at any time be-
lieved nor do ] now believe, that the
entrance of America into the league
can occur, will occur or should occur
until the ommon judgment of
the American people is ready for
the step. We waited for this
judgment to ripen in order that we
might enter the war. I am content,
if need be, to wait until 1t speaks
for the agencies of peace.
THAT a day can and will come
when this great question will finally
be lifted entirely above the plane
Of partisan politics; when men will
cease to take counsel solely of their
passions, their pride and their fears;
and when the voice OF public ap-
prevail will find means to make it.
self heard, I am serenely confident.