They would not be cool enough to treat the issue as one of international morality or of the right governance of Europe.

The cry would simply be that, for various sinister and selfish reasons, the President wished "to let the Hun off." The almost unanimous voice of the French and British Press could be anticipated.

Thus, if he threw down the gage publicly he might be defeated.

And if he were defeated, would not the final Peace be far worse than if he were to retain his prestige and endeavor to make it as good as the limiting conditions of European politics would allow, him?
But above all, if he were defeated, would he not lose the League of Nations?
And was not this, after all, by far the most important issue for the future happiness of the world?
The Treaty would be altered and softened by time.

Much in it which now seemed so vital would become trifling, and much which was impracticable would for that very reason never happen.