The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-07-29
PEACE AMONG THE NATIONS

sixteen foreign and two native stud
ents Of the University Of Wisconsin,
together representing eleven nation
alities, gathered in the modest little
apartments Of young Japanese. They
founded an International club, in
which the representatives Of every
nation in the university were to meet
on a basis Of equality and brother
hood.
This was new departure in stud
ent activities. Foreign societies were
no uncommon feature Of American
college life. Every large institution
of learning had its prospecting Ger
man, Norwegian, or Latin-American
club. But the idea of cosmopoli-
tan organization, with universal
brotherhood as its cornerstone, was a
novel one.
BY many It was denounced as q
chimera. The very idea of amalga-
mating into one society men OF the
most diverse countries caused faint
smile Of contempt on the faces Of mar
row-minded natives.
Yet what happened? The club SO
founded has grown, until today, with
a membership of 20, representing 20
countries, it is one Of the most -four
ishing organizations in the university.
The cosmopolitan idea has partly
terminated in, partly spread to, other
universities, SO that now nineteen
leading state and endowed institu-
tions of learning count such clubs
among their valuable assets.
A national association of Cosmo-
politan clubs was founded in 1907,
which now has membership Of near
ly 1000 an dincludes representatives
from almost SO different countries.
AT a convention held at the Hague,
August 24-29, an affiliation was even
perfected with the International Fed
Grafton of Students Of Europe, better
known as Corda Fratres. Work is
now on an. inter-continental basis,
and the possibilities for. effective CO.
operation unlimited. United the two
bodies have become a League OF
Peace which will soon encompass the
student body of the whole civilized
world.
Hawaiian and Frenchmen, japanese
and American, Chinese, German
Hungarian and Filipino, even the OPP
pressed Armenian, all are on foot
ing of equality in this unique organi
cation. What matters it that one Ii
an engineer, another law student
a third an agriculturist? That ONT
believes In monarchial government
while the other sees In the control O
the masses the only solution of thu
social problem? That one is Jap
anese prince, the second Russian
revolutionist, the third a plain Amer
lean farmer boy, the fourth Hindl
priest? Why despise man becaus'
his skin is yellow or brown or black
The members of the international ant
cosmopolitan clubs need no unity 0
color, race, or social position to bin,
the mtogether. Theirs is firme
tie. "Above all nations is human
ity'' is the proud motto Of the associ
Z alton. Humanity-all embracing, al
including, linked with the idea 0
mankind--this is bond Of unio
far transcending national, social, an
racial lines Of demarcation.
Where Nations Mingle
The purpose of the internations
and cosmopolitan clubs is to bring tc
gether college young men from di
ferent countries, to aid and direct fol
eign students coming to the Unite
States, to cultivate the arts of peac
and to establish strong information;
friendships
The activities Of the individual o
CARNATIONS are numerous and varie
Lectures on international topics, di
cussions on subjects of foreign Il
terest, and occasional social function
are some Of the forms which these a
tivities take.
But most conspicuous are the $
called national nights In the
the members of one nation, If poss
BILE, on the evening of their country
holiday, describe the history and
situations of their fatherland, phi
music by their native composers, al
discuss the relation of their state
other powers.
In the course Of these "nation
nights" the members get better |
sight into the mode Of living, GU
toms, and viewpoints Of people
different races than they can ev
gain from the colored accounts
travellers in foreign lands. I'll