Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-06-28


- the great generation in Information.
al relations and rules Of conduct. Formerly up to
the rance-German war, every nation was a law
to itself, and international laws we're made to be
broken like pie crust whenever it suited the tastes
the interests Of particular nation Treaties and
alliances we're made in solemn form, as they have
been since nations existed, but their binding force
as a moral obligation weighed lightly on the con
tracing parties, and no reprOach was impaired or
felt when the time and occasion suited to disregard
them. Diplomacy was the masquerade of nations
and war was merely the throwing off OF the mask
No nation would brook for moment the interven-
tiOn Of an outsider in it's quarrel with another ma
tiOn. Wars sprang up with the suddenness Of a
summer storm and we're fought out as long as it
suited the personal temper Of the combatants. And
like q summer storm such wars we're comparatively
circamscribed and and evanescent in their nature
and consequences, the raid, fOray and ambuscade
going on in one part of q country while few miles
away the natives continued their peaceful pursuits
in comparative safety and indifference. War as a
rule was a bloody game between kings and their ar.
mics, while the nation looked on as more or less
interested spectator.
The frst great change in the attitude of nations
was wrought by the building Of teegraphs and rail.
roads, and the increasing destructveness OF modern
engines Of war. The first impressive object lesson
was given by the Franco German war, when the
fast following events of few months founded a
great empire and left great nation lying pOstrate
and mobiles; from spectacular drama it had risen to
the dignity Of q national tragedy The suddenness
and completeness Of it appalled, all Europe and the
necessity was quickly felt of devsing some effective
co0nterpOise to the danger. This led to the prac-
tical periectng Of the balance OF power, which has
long been the dream Of statesmen, and the effects OF
which we see in the present contest over Morocco.
If these times we're like-NapOleon's doubtless the
kaiser would have seized Morocco and would have
invaded France within week if she had dared to
resent It. In fact but for the balance of power,
which means the implied agreement OF the nations
to defend each other against spoation and aggress
ion, Germany's war lord might long ago have be-
come the conqueror Of Europe. AS it is the sober
ing thought that he might go down in history as
William the detbroned, instead Of as William the
Great, gives him pause Hence the spectacle is
presented that when German and French interests
clash in Moroccoa conference OF the powers is IN
vited When France refuses, and the German
shows his mailed fist England hastily mObilizes her
feet the drum is beaten and mid night councils are
held in Europe's capitals Both sides present their
case in full to the American president seeking bis
moral il not his active support The equities and
moral obligations OF the situation recognized as
binding considerations, II not as sovereign force
And now in the game Of nations mailed might and
brute force are no longer suffeient truth and
right must at least be pleaded in justification at the
bar Of the world.