Attitude Before the War
James M. Cox vigorously and frankly opposed many of the policies of Great Britain. The Republicans frequently criticize him for this, referring to quotations from his papers to support their charges.
It appears to me quite evident in looking back over the last five years, that Cox at one time misunderstood the fundamentals of the European war. Thus on the 7th of November, 1915, a year and a half before we entered the war, an editorial in the News declared that “Victory by Germany was not the worst thing that could happen”; and as late as the 3rd of September, 1916, the News emphasized the importance of not relying wholly on Great Britain and the importance of not fearing her. Surely warnings appeared constantly in one or both of the Governor’s papers. Certain of his friends deny that the Governor was acquainted with such statements before they were written, and some go so far as to state that the editorials did not represent the Governor’s personal feelings. I cannot believe it.
Senator Harding through his paper at Marion, Ohio, has a similar record. Furthermore, Senator Harding’s neutrality speech as chairman of the Republican National Convention in 1916 was along the same lines as the Cox editorials. Both were keen enough to see the dangers of hasty intervention and both feared British influence. Later events failed to justify the position of Cox and Harding, yet fair-minded men will give credit to both for their moral courage.
Concerning these criticisms, the Governor says:
“All editorials which the Republicans have cited were published before this country entered the war. They were at a time when feeling regarding the proper policy for this country to pursue was in a state of constant fluctuation. At times it even verged on differences with Great Britain over blockade policies which necessitated the exchange of important diplomatic notes.”
The Republican leaders once urged Colonel Roosevelt to attack Governor Cox for his criticism of England in a speech he made at the dedication of a soldiers’ monument in Columbus; but the Colonel declined with the declaration that he could not do so as he had already pronounced Governor Cox “One of America’s greatest war governors.”
James M. Cox was the first Governor to sense the inconsistencies of Great Britain. He was especially troubled by her attitude on the Irish question. His heart went out to Ireland from the first. I am convinced that if he becomes President and the United States is in the League, he will immediately force Ireland’s case before the League.