The Washington times., 1924-08-12

increase IN their mSaSSr 6athrlSS5
the President disapproves It.
sHe protests against the restrics
ton on Japanese immigration;
Congress adopts It.
whenever before did a party in
control Of the Executive and Of
| majority In both houses of Con-
| gress present so pitiable q spec
tacle Of ,discord and division? BY
what right can a political organ
ization so led and so disciplined
appeal for q further lease OF
| power? ss'
-Four years ago the Republican
party, in .snafsing criticism OF the
great leader then in office, prom
| ised to lend Executive autocracy".
| 1t has fallen into the pit that 1t
dug, for its efforts in that direc-
ton have succeeded beyond its
widest dreams. An Executive
who cannot or. will not lead,
Congress that cannot and will not
foIlow-how can good government
exist under such conditions?
Nor is 1t in domestic matters
alone that the symptoms Of this
creeping paralysis have appeared
Not only have the Executive rec
concentrations for adherence to
the World Court, sanctioned as
they are by long American ira
dition and example, been flouted
and ignored, but no evidence is
in sight that the Republican party
as now constituted can frame and
carry to its conclusion any def.
mite and consistent foreign policy.
No Foreign Policy.
Four years ago we were pro-
| missed, a new association OF ma
lions to be created in order to
protect and preserve the peace
OF the world. No single proposal
Of this sort MAS yet appeared
from any Of those who so loudly
promised it. With the recon.
struction of Europe weighing
heavily on the world; with Ameri-
can economic life dwarfed and
stunted by the interruption Of
world commerce; with the agricul-
tural regions of the West sinking
! into bankruptcy because Of the
loss of their foreign markets;
we have stood by as powerless
spectators, offering to the world
nothing but private charity and
individual advice.
1t is veil enough to praise
in unmeasured terms the charity
of the American people. 1t ia
not an unworthy pride that makes.
US dwell upon the efforts indi-
| vidual Americans have made to-
ward the solution of great world
problems. But the question which
presses itself upon the mind and
conscience Of the American people
and will not be denied is what
| they, as a nation, speaking
through their Government, have
| done or dared to do in this great
| field of action.
The Washington Conference
alone aside, and that of more
than doubtful value, what single
contribution has the United States
OF America, as an organized ma
ton among nations. made to
world peace in the last four
years?
Individual Americans have gone
abroad but they went without the
blessing OF their Government.
| Unofficial observers" have ap.
peared at international conferences
where America, IL present at all.
should have been present as an
! equal among equals.
When but yesterday three
Americans went to the Conference
on Preparations, whose fruitful
outcome all the world desires,
Washington was prompt to dis.
claim all responsibility for their
going though eager to take credit
Tor whatever they might accomp-
hsh. We achieved only what one
OF them has called ''bootlegging
participation.
Confession Of Impotence.
Three weeks ago, in the city of
+ London. there came from the
Secretary of State himself an
amazing confession of this i'm.
potence. Said he:
Il may give it as my convic.
ton that had we attempted TO
make Americas contribution to
the recent plan of adjustment a
governmental matter, we should
have been involved in a hope.
less debate and there would have
been no adequate action. We
should have been beset with de.
mands. objections, instructions.
rms is not the way to make an
American contribution to eco.
nomic revival"
II can read these words
Alright. they can mean only this:
that by reason either of the in
ABILITY OF the Executive to lead
or the unwillingness of his party
TO follow, the foreign affairs Of
the United States, including the
great and vital question Of Eu-
ropean settlement, must be left
In private hands. We must face
the humiliating fact that we have
a government that does not dare
to speak its mind beyond the
three mile limit.
A political party, which is at
best but human, may make hon.
est mistakes; they can be forgiven
1t may pass unwise laws; they can
be repealed. 1t may, through hon.
est error, set men to tasks be.
yond their power; they can be
displaced and others chosen in
their stead. The objectionable sin,
however, for it is a sin that
strikes at the national life, Is con-
duct so corrupt, so partial and
so feeble that 1t shakes the public
confidence in Government itself.
l indict the Republican party
in its organized capacity for hav-
ing shaken public confidence to
its very foundations. / charge
it with having exhibited deeper
and more widespread corruption
than. any that th1s generation OF
Americans has been called upon
to witness. charge II with COM
placency in the face Of that cor.
ruption and with iii will toward
the efforts of honest men % ex-
pose It. charge 1t with gross
favoritism to the privileged and
with utter disregard OF the I'm.