Newspaper Page Text
THE DALTON CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1921.
Entered at tha Dalton, G»., postofflce tor tmnitniirioa
'Oirragfc tba mails, as second-class matter.
——!—
DALTON, GA„ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1921.
Pay as mu£h as you can, and your credit will
not suffer.
Can you afford not to vote for bonds for
schools?
We wonder if the “emperor of the invisible
empire” is feeling right well these days?
The School Bond Issue.
In calling for a $90,000 bond issue for schools
in Dalton those having the matter in hand have
in mind the repairs absolutely necessary to the
present school buildings, as well as the building
and equipping of a modern high school building.
It is dot contemplated to spend all of the money
for a high school building, but in order to be on
the safe side the issue called for was made amply
large enough to take care of all that must be done
to make the Dalton Public School System what it
should be.
The town has out grown the present school fa-'
cilities, and today notwithstanding the compul-
. sory education law, there are boys and girls walk
ing the streets who should be in school.
No town can afford to grow faster than its
schools. There must be, if civilization is to en
dure, ample educational facilities. It is ignorance
that breeds bolshevism and breaks down orderly
government.
The proponents of the bond issue do not pro-
pose to attempt to sell all of the issue in one lump.
They intend to sell them only as the needs of the
occasion require, and if the high school building
can be built and the necessary repairs to the old
ones can be made, for less than $90,000, all the
better. If the work can be done for $50,000, $60,-
000 or $75,000 no greater sale of bonds 'will be
made.
We do not believe we have ever witnessed pub
lic sentiment so thoroughly crystallized on “any
question as is the case with reference. to the pro
posed bond issue, and it is to be hoped that noth
ing will be thrown in the way of the final con
summation so devoutly wished.
The school population of Dalton is very large,
and it is necessary that the people provide means
for the education of those who are soon to take
the leadership in the places of those now in the
ranks. This cannot be done with the present fa
cilities. Dalton is growing and the schools must
grow with the town.
Let’s all Work together for the bond issue.
Look how far Dalton went forward with her
last bond issue.
The Greensboro Herald-Journal advises every
body to do their Christmas bottling early.
We hope the good women will continue to reg
ister. They are going to do it we are sure.
“Bud” Blalock is one man we should like to
see commissioner of agriculture. The boys say
he is going to run.
The Lawrenceville News-Herald has been won
derfully improved within the past month. It is
now a full-fledged seven column paper and is
issued twice a week. It is one of the virile news
papers of the state.
!K
Almost at the Parting of the Ways.
The civilized world has had its eyes on Wash
ington for the past three weeks. The war-worn
people hope yet something will come out of
the conference that will have a tendency to lessen
tax burdens and make for universal peace.
But the hope is fading. This country cannot re
main in the, world and at the same time live
out of it. If we fere to do our part in keeping the
peace of the world, we must assume some of the
responsibility. We must either be leagued, or as
sociated, with the other great powers for the pur
pose of maintaining world order.
Destroying obsolete ships will not make war
impossible, but it will relieve the tax-payers of a
great burden, and for this the proposition is to be
commended.
The assumption is that in the future, should
wars come, and they will if there is not a better
international understanding, they will be fought
from the air and from underneath the seas.
A dreadnought, or a super-dreadnought, is no
match for the bombing plane, and with the seas
full of submarines, what service could a $43,000,-
000 battleship render to a nation battling for either
democracy or autocracy?
Universal disarmament is a beautiful thing to
talk about, but it would be a more wonderful and
L a more humanitarian thing if it could be accom
plished.
We hope for much yet from the conference at
Washington, but-at this writing the glooms have
us.
The president sees clearly that the best plan
for permanent peace is a league or an association,
with the other nations of the world, but he is all
enmeshed in politics and partizanship. He trav
els a little way in the right direction, and then is
forced to retreat. He may be gaining a bit, but
it is by slow processes, with much halting and
misgiving.
The League of Nations, with something above
forty signatories, in Article VHI, provides for
gradual disarmament, the very thing for which
the conference was called to Washington to de
cide. .
A mere gentleman’s agreement will not mean
anything. There must be some binding force if
the nations of the earth are to cease preparing for
war.
Certainly the statesmen at Washington ought
by this time to be able to see where they are—al
most at the parting of the ways—largely because
republican statesmanship is not big enough to rise
above its hatred of Woodrow Wilson!
Augusta Again Suffers from Fire.
Augusta has suffered another great loss from
a disastrous fire. In 1916 the city was partially
burned out, and in this fire the Augusta Chronicle
lost its plant but saved its valuable files, dating
back to 1785. In the fire of Saturday night not
Only was its plant destroyed but its files as well.
But the Chronicle is undaunted and will build
back'Tngger and better than ever before. So will
the city of Augusta, because her people are built
of that stern stuff that makes of obstacles step
ping stones to higher and better things.
The Chronicle never missed an issue, and to
Editor Thomas J .Hamilton and his loyal staff The
Citizen extends both sympathy and congratula
tions. With spirit unbroken and a determination
to accomplish whatever is necessary to bring
success out of disaster they are forging ahead to
the goal of a greater Augusta and a greater Chron
icle.
The following editorial, appearing' in the
Chronicle Sunday, November 27th, breathes the
spirit of that admirable, brave trait that knows
not the meaning of the word failure:
The Augusta Chronicle was in its temporary
quarters in the old Schneider building, 735 Broad
street, yesterday morning by 9:30 Oi’dock and by
ten o’clock telephones had been installed and a
large sign placed over the door. We were warmly
congratulated on the great speed that was used
in getting ready for business. The Chronicle was
enabled to go right back into business with that
marvelous despatch which was shown because of
the fast work of Chronicle employes and the ex
cellent co-operation that was shown by the tele
phone company, the gas company, the Augusta-
Aiken Railway and Electric Corporation and Mr.
Robert Dressel who painted a big sign in record
time. At seven thirty a. m., Mr. H. H. Stafford, one
of the owners of the Schneider Building was got
ten on the telephone and asked if he would rent
the offices that were available in this building.
The deal was closed at once and men begap to
clean up the offices. Tables and chairs were in
stalled, office records which had been in the tem
porary custody of citizens were brought into the
new quarters, telephones were put in place, the
Associated Press loop wire was' cut in, gas was
connected for the radiators and every thing made
ready for business. The big sign “Office, Augusta
Chronicle” was swung out over the front door and
we were in business again. We were out of a
home just about six hours.
The Chronicle employes, one and all manifested
that wonderful spirit which bespeaks their splen
did loyalty for the paper. They worked like Tro-
jahs during the fire and after the fire worked to
produce the creditable morning newspaper with
out inconvenience to patrons. The people of
Augusta secured - their paper a little late but they
did not mind. The occasion was estraordinary.
The Chronicle had been burned out, but it was
not out of commission, it was simply delayed. The
spirit of the Chronicle cannot be killed and though
fires may come to destroy our physical property
it cannot dlfestroy the wonderful spirit which has
enabled the grand old newspaper to Tie in busi
ness 137 years without missing an issue. During
the day yesterday we received dozens of telegrams
from good friends all over this section of the coun
try and hundreds of warm assurances from our
own Augusta people of their fond regard for the
Chronicle. ~ We are grateful for all of these and
we are encouraged to dare to do greater things
with The Chronicle than we have ever attempted
before and we are absolutely convinced that Au-
gustans love the Chronicle as they do a member
of the inner circle of their own families. The new
and greater Chronicle for greater Augusta, that is
our slogan..
Corn is selling in many places at twenty cents
a bushel. In Russia, China and Armenia thous
ands are starving. What is the answer?
Corn is now being^burned as fuel. A lot of it
is exploding, and some of it is burning out the
coppers of those inclined to be bibulous.
We have been living for more than a week
without the Columbus Enquirer-Sun. We seem to
be unable to locate it among our exchanges.
We had thought a' right smart of the sales tax
proposition until we saw Willie Hearst was so all-
fired strong for it. It must be wrong somewhere.
Keeping the Record Straight.
“Our Tom” is the most magnificent claimer in
the world. He kills all the bears, chases away all
the hobgobblins, fights all the windmills (with
wind), climbs all the greased poles, and success
fully catches and holds all the greased pigs.
In the failure of the senate to ratify the ap
pointment of Henry Lincoln Johnson as recorder
of deeds for the District of Columbia, “Our Tom”
is there, with the goods. He is the Spartan who
delivered the fatal blow—the gladiator who hung
Henry Lincoln on the ropes.
Now let’s go to the record and look the facts
in the face. “Our Tom” appeared before the sen
ate committee investigating Link, and appealed to
__ with all the fire and ire of his perfervid nature.
He told the committee that Johnson was personal
ly objectionable to him (almost everybody is, you
know) and that he wanted the republican commit
teeman turned down forthwith, as well as in-
stanter.
What do you suppose the senate committee did?
Why, it simply up and voted to a man for the
confirmation of the Georgia negro, that’s what it
did. And it did it in spite of “Our Tom,” too. Jt
was a sad day, mates. “Our Tom” couldn’t even
get one vote in the committee room against the
negro who was -personally objectionable to him.
Speaking of senatorial courtesy—but what’s the
use?
But on the floor of the senate it was quite dif
ferent. Senator Harris voiced his opposition to
the confirmation of Henry Lincoln,'stating that he
was personally objectionable to him, and he got
action. In other words, he is respected by his
colleagues, because he is sincere and honest, and
also a gentleman.
While all the talk about who “killed the b’ar”
going on it is well to get the facts and keep the
record straight.
“Our Tom” had about as much to do with
keeping Henry Lincoln Johnson out of the office
of recorder of deeds in Washington as did Hie
supreme ruler of Haiti.
Lord Northcliffe says “we must disarm our
minds before we can reduce our fleets.” If we
continue to think fleets and falk fleets we will
continue to have them.
The “poison squad” seems to be getting ready
for business at the same aid stand. Senator Borah
has already started, and Hi Johnson can be ex
pected to join him. And then there is Senator
Reed. The monkey-wrenches are beginning to fly,
and soon the disarmament conference is likely to
resemble a negro crap game where everybody is -
winning and disputing.
/
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♦ CLIPPINGS AND COMMENTS ♦
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Is a railroad millenium coming? The rail
road managers are coming to believe that low
er freight rates would stimulate business.—
Dawson News.
That’s what a lot of us ordinary “boobs” have
been telling them for a long time.
The price of beef at packing houses is back
to the level of 1914. But the consumer would
not know it if he hadn’t read it in the news
papers.—Dawson News.
Certainly he can’t tell it by the bills he gets
the first of the month.
According to Glenn Plumb, the railroads
of the country are “financial, physical, mental
and moral bankrupts.”—Macon Telegraph.
" Which brings to mind the question, “What’s the
matte/ with Glenn Plumb?”
The Bainbridge Post-Searchlight calls -Tim
Georgia’s Apostle of Sunshine. The Post-
Searchlight editor has never seen Jim work at
night.—Bill Biffem, in Savannah Press.
What you trying to do, Bill, set the revenoors
after “Uncle Jim”?
The Ku-Klux Klan has offered its services
to the chief of police of Cincinnati to suppress
banditry in that city.—Rome Tribune-Heald.
Having headquarters in Atlanta it would seem
that the Klan could, with more becoming grace;,
offer its services to the chief of police for the same
purpose.
At any rate, you never hear a man in front
of a soda fountain declaring' loudly that he
can lick everybody in the house.—Athens Daily
News. k
But you will find him quite frequently in a
dark alley soon after he has had an “interview”
with his favorite bootlegger, not only kicking
everybody, but stepping on them besides.
Conditions would be at least fifty per cent
better if everybody .would pay as far as they
can. There can’t be much progress as long as
the wheels are locked.—Jackson Progress-
Argus.
That’s - the truth. There are too many people
who take advantage of stringent times and begin
riding those to whom they- are indebted. This
makes bad matters won^e, of course.
If, as a superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
League declares, the newspapers and news
paper writers of this country have been sub
sidized by the liquor interests, we want to rise
to a point of order and raise a yelp that may
be heard from the rockbound coast of grand
old Maine to the sun-kist slopes of the Pa
cific. How come we didn’t get ours?—Macon
Telegraph.
And how come also we didn’t get 010: part?
A reader of the Tumulty articles in the New-
York Times is struck by the omission of any
references to Col. E. M. House. In other chap-
tiers, however, the author has alluded to the 7
Colonel several times.—Savannah Press.
The enemies of Mr. Tumulty and the ex-Pres-
ident are so intent on finding fault that they jump
at conclusions, and in so doing, often make them
selves ridiculous. To the person interested in
the history of the World war the Tumulty articles
are most interesting as well as instructive.
The Dalton Citizen says that it has never
seen the person that politics and society would *
not eventually ruin. "We don’t know about
this assertion from a political standpoint, but
from the crest of high society. Jack Patterson,
of the Atlanta Journal; is a living refutation of
Editor Shope’s assertion.—Winder News.
Jack Patterson is not the kind of society man
we had in mind when we wrote the paragraph
above referred to. The social snob, gad-about and
climber is the genus homo (hobo would do just
as well) at which we aimed our javelin.
Bradstreet’s commercial agency says that
84 per cent of the business failures of the past
year occurred among firms which did not ad
vertise. This is a good showing under the cir
cumstances. The only wonder is that the
other 16 percent didn’t fail also.—Rome Tri
bune-Herald.
And yet there are a few firms which try to
do business without advertising. The trouble
about this sort of a proposition is that they may
know what they are trying to do, but nobody else
does.
We notice that two or three Georgia daily
newspapers are snapping at the letters of
Joseph Tumulty regarding former President
Wilson and attempting to detract from them
by belittling Tumulty. But this is mighty little
journalism and doesn’t add either ^dignity,
strength or popularity to the pee wees that
still maintain a mean and contemptible atti
tude towards the former President.—Walton
Tribune.
The snarlers and snipers will never harm
Woodrow Wilson by trying to belittle Tumulty.
If we should ever be called to a responsible posi
tion where we would have to have a private sec
retary, we would want one just like Tumulty.
Way down south in the land of cotton, the
price, is good but the freight rates rotten.—
Tom Sims.
Way down south we sit and wait, because
darned few of us can pay the freight.—Dal
ton Citizen.
Way down south we fuss and fret, because
d—n few of us are out of debt.—Madison
Madisonian.
Way down south things are brightening up,
soon we’ll be out of the goldarned rut.—Dal
ton Citizen.
Way down south there’s a cuss of a nut,
who should be told that “up” is a darned poor
rhyme for “rut.”—A. J. S.
We are not much on poetic technique. What
we tried to do was to sprinkle a little salt on the
tail of a little, as Ring Lardner would say, idear.
A farmer who sold ten or twelve bales of
cotton at Dalton Tuesday was robbed on his
way home, according to reports reaching here
yesterday, the highwayman taking every cent
of his money and his hat besides. We will
continue to hear of and read of such things
happening so long as people carry any con
siderable amount of money around with them,
or conceal money around their homes or v
premises. The proper place for money is in a
bank, and the man who takes a chance on
having his money burned or stolen, and risks
getting himself killed by a robber’ to boot,
is not entitled to much sympathy when he
loses it.—Calhoun Times.
It is here considered the report that a farmer
was held up and robbed near Dalton has been
greatly exaggerated. In fact no such thing hap
pened, so far as The Citizen can learn. But it
might have happened. v
Look for the good that’s in people instead
of the bad. No matter how bad a man might
be there’s some good in him.—Greensboro
Herald-Journal.
We wish we were able to hold this view, but
we can’t. Some people are just like rotten eggs—
no good at all. Look at Tom Watson.
The senate is to be complimented on its
good, behavior during the Washington Con
ference. Its quietude has been unusual, not
even being broken to the extent of taking a
fling at the Japanese in Shantung. Mr. Hard
ing must have had fine faith in the democrats,
not to have acted on the advice of advisors
and adjourned the senate before the confer
ence opened; and certainly they have shown
themselves worthy of that confidence. Of
course, the republicans kept quiet. They have
democracy to thank that it has not acted as
the party of Mr. Harding did when Mr. Wil
son was at Paris.—Macon Telegraph. ,
The republicans will- never hear the last of
their impudence and bad behavior during the clos
ing days of the Wilson administration. The fact
that party was placed above everything else is’
fast dawning upon the minds of the people every
where.
Hon. A. O. Blalock’s friends are urging him
to become a candidate at the next election,
for commissioner of agriculture; £ftid it is pret
ty generally understood that he will do so.
He is an honest, capable and able man, and the
people of Georgia could hardly make a better
selection. “Bud” Blalock ’would'immediately
clean out the filth and rot now accumulated
in that Augean stable, and give the state such
an administration of that department as the
public interests emphatically demand, and if
any responsible citizens, whether legislators
or plain clothes people, suggest that there is
rottenness there and request an investigation
of it, he not only would not lobby to prevent
itfhut promptly demand that one be made.—
Lawrenceville News-Herald.
That’s the difference between the present in
cumbent and the one contemplated. The fact that
“Machine Jim” Brown opposes an investigation of
the agricultural department, over which he pre
sides, is the very best of evidence that something
is rotten. A change is needed, and “Bud” Bla
lock can bring it to pass.
♦ ♦
♦ LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE ♦
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Bankruptcy.
To the Editor of The Dalton Citizen:
It is a terrible thing for a man to be forced into
bankruptcy in financial matters. Especially is this
true of a good man, a man that has always met his
obligations on time. For this kind of man to real
ize that he has failed, for him to know that he
must acknowledge defeat is one of the great trag
edies of life. Such an experience is so trying, so
destructive of courage and reason, that some of
the ablest business men of America could not stand
the strain. The result was that the number, of
suicides in this country was vastly increased in the
past year.
And yet there is a bankruptcy that is infinitely
more appalling than the failure to meet financial
obligations. Bankruptcy in financial matters may
weaken the business interests of this country, but
a failure to meet certain obligations in other direc
tions will, cause a greater and more terrible loss.
We cannot pay all the debts we owe with money.
What of those debts of service and appreciation
we owe to the family, the community, the state,
and the nation?
Civilization is so constituted that we must pay,
and pay, and pay. Every day makes new debts...
and unless we are to become hopelessly involved
we must square our accounts every day of the
world’s progress.
And finally there are those obligations that we
owe ourselves, that necessity under which every
human soul is bound to itself. Have you allowed
the encroachment of material considerations to
impoverish your spirit? Have you given that im
mortal part of yourself that we call spirit, a chance
to grow, to expand into a new ana radiant life?
Have you paid the debt you owe your own self by
improving every opportunity for service and self
culture? Are you keenly appreciative of the beau
ty of the world, its great thinkers, its music, the
divine purpose running through all?
If you fail to pay in these things, fail to meet
these higher obligations, you are a bankrupt in
things spiritual and are hopelessly involved and
in debt so deep that you can never get out, though
you pay every cent you owe in a money mad world.
Are you a spiritual bankrupt?
HIRAM SMITH.
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5 EXCHANGE OPINION *
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Still It Was Wilson.
It was Wilson who received the big ovation in
Washington on Armistice day. But you would
nof have known it by reading the Washington pa
pers'.—Dalton Citizen. .
But the Washington papers are not all. Uncle
Henry Watterson said the other day in a New York
interview that the peak of usefulness of the Amer
ican newspaper had been reached. We do not
know whether he was right, but we do know he is
a wise old man.
Following the Watterson interview a few days
later the people of New York chose a man for
mayor against whom all the greater newspapers in
that city had launched a terrific onslaught. They
paid no attention to the newspapers.
In the matter of Wilson’s statesmanship it is
going to be much the same. Public adherence to
his policies is going to bury newspaper propa
ganda that rose so furious and solid against him
when republican partisanship directed their war
on him. The anti-Wilson newspapers of this coun
try are going the same route the anti-Hylan news
papers went.
Substitutes for the Wilson statesmanship will
not hold despite all efforts to appropriate and in
corporate his best ideals into their program. All
the nations on earth have accepted his plans for
reconstructing governments following the war ex
cept the republican party and the newspapers it
controls in this country—and not even all these
oppose the peace plans he set up.
The nations represented at our present arms
conference are all members of the league of na
tions. They cannot abide the principles set forth
in the league and make of the arms conference
what it ought to mean to the world. Either the.
one or the other will suffer—and should all the
rest of the world lay down its plans for peace to
suit a group of men.like. Henry Cabot Lodge and
George Harvey in this country? -
Thfey may say nice things—they may deliberate
long and faithfully, they may try honestly to find
some solution which will please all factions, but
when the final reckoning comes, the nations which
have already chosen the league as a means of in
suring peace will more than likely stick to it—
and they are going to do so in spite of American
republican newspapers which have in late times
served as political organs.
Of course, the Washington newspapers are not
going to say a word when such an incident as
that occurring the other day at the burial of tlje
unknown soldier takes place. But that is not go
ing to keep the people from considering Woodrow
Wilson as the greatest among those who gave their
lives for permanent world peace.—Cordele Des
patch.
“Entangling Alliances.”
Entangling alliances seemed to be frightful
things when President Wilson at Paris was trying
to make the League of Nations the effective agency
for world peace which he believed the times de
manded and for which he believed the opportunity
was presented.
They'were a “menace to the safety of the coun
try” when senatorial opposition to the Versailles
treaty was delivering its broadsides and express-
CHEERY LAYS
for DREARY DAYS
By JAMES WELLS, The Printer-Poet
Christmas Time is Near.
Can’t you see the little kiddies
Acting “just as good as pie?”
See them help to feed the “biddies,”
Never do you hear them cry;
And in every-_day behavior,
Each one is a perfect dear.
They are thinking of Old Santa,
For Christmas-time is near.
Johnny’s busy splitting kindling;
Tommy’s bringing in the wood;
(Little Eddie—full of mischief—
Tries so hard to be quite good).
Lou and Lillie, Maud and Millie
All help mamma, never fear!
Sweeping, dusting, washing v dishes,
For Christmas-time is near.
Susie’s busy writing letters
To her friend, Dear Santa Claus,
For she wants some little dishes
And a stove “that’s just like ma’s.”
As she mails them in the chimney,
And they quickly disappear,
You can tell that Santa gets them,
And that Christmas-time is near.
Brightly gay are shops and windows,
Loaded down with pretty toys.
While around them gazing, praising
Stand the eager girls and boys; /
And the legend loud proclaiming,
“Santa Claus’ headquarters here,”
Bids us watch for St. Nick’s coming,
For Christmas-time is near.
^ * * * » * •
Don’t You Cry.
Fortune sorter thrown you down?
Don’t you cry.
Never mind misfortune’s frown—
Pass it by.~
- Keep a good stiff upper lip—
Hang right on with bull-dog grip—
Vow that you will win next trip.
Don’t you cry.
Everything a-Iookin’ blue?
Don’t you cry.
Twill look better, lad, to you
Bye and bye.
Every lane must turn some day—
Come the end of day so gray—
Dry your weeping eyes, I pray,
Don’t you cry.
******
Love.
Some love their wife and little babes;
Some love the fields, all sunny;
Some love the mountains and the streams,
And some love only money.
******
The National Sport.
Some sportsmen fish for trout and bass
Until the sport quite “tuckers,”
While others sit the whole day long
And cast their bait for suckers.
******
A Question. -
, I’m state-ing to you a question
Which drives me to despair:
If Georgia wears her New Jersey,
Then, pray, what will Delaware?
******
Two Little Animals.
When Mary had a little lamb,
Which did as it was bid,
* No wonder she took it to school, .
For she was just a kid.
******
No One to Love Me.
(Song rights reserved.)
I am lonely as can be,
For there’s no one thinks of me,
And the game of life I’m playing all alone.
There is none my heart to share—
Not a soul who seems to care—
Not a single one that I can call my own.
Chorus.
No one to miss me,
No one to kiss me,
No one to call me dear;
No one to love me
Or “turtle-dove” me,
No one to soothe or cheer.
Others have their sweethearts, true,
And their happiness I view,
While in my heart there’s loneliness and pain;
And I hope some day there’ll be
Some one who will care for me,
For,a little love I’m longing all in vain.
Chorus.
No one to talk with,
_ No one to walk with
“No one my heart to share.
If I lay dying,
There’d be no crying—
There is no one to care.
ing its horror of our departure from the beaten
paths of tradition. ,
But the times change, and viewpoints change
with them. It is noted that following the power
ful speech of Premier Briand, Secretary Hughes
made a cordial response in the 0010*56 of which
he said: “There is no moral isolation for the de
fenders of liberty and justice.” Comment is made
by the Philadelphia Record that “this means some
thing or it means nothing; and we cannot assume
that the Secretary of State of the United States in
a formal speech responsive to that of the Prime
Minister of France means nothing.” And to that
the Philadelphia paper adds the following, which
is very interesting:
But if it means something, what is it? We
cannot assume that the qualifying word “moral”
destroys the apparent meaning of the sentence.
Mr. Hughes could not mean that if France were
attacked by its ancient enemy other nations would
feel sorry for it and watch its destruction with
regret. A moral obligation is supposed to be more
binding, if possible, than a legal obligation; it
is supposed that where the legal obligation ceased
the moral obligation would become effective. The
moral obligation must inspire conduct when the
legal obligation falls short.
If these are not empty words—and we cannot
suppose them to be—they mean that if France
were attacked it would receive substantial help.
But Mr. Hughes cannot speak for Great Britain
or Italy or any foreign country. He can only
speak for the United States beyond the life of this
Administration, but unquestionably he pledges this
Administration, he pledges the United States so
long as Mr. Harding shall be President, to go to
the succor of France against an attack.
But this is clearly an entangling alliance. The
Republican party defeated the Versailles treaty
because a compact with other nations for mutual
defense would be an entangling alliance. With the
failure of the treaty, the treaty negotiated between
President Wilson and Premier Clemenceau guar
anteeing the defense of France fell, and with the
agreement also there fell the treaty of like char
acter negotiated between Prime Minister Lloyd
George and Prime Minister Clemenceau. This
left France with such guarantees as the League
of Nations could afford, but with none other, and
the value of the League of Nations was seriously
impaired by the refusal of the United States to
enter it.
France had given a consideration for the de
fensive agreements with the United States and
Great Britain. The military authorities of France
were agreed that the safety of their country de
manded the Rhine for a frontier, or, failing in
that, the erection of the German territory west of
the Rhine into an autonomous buffer State. In
deference to the United States and Engfland France
waived the whole of this demand and then by the
action of the United States, it failed to get the
quid pro quo.
And now' in fact, though not in form, the Re
publican Administration commits the United States
to an entangling alliance by assuring France of
allies if it shall be attacked.—Albany Herald.