The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-11-18

ESSENCEf oFs iNTELLt9EHCE. m
By DR.. Edwin A. Alderman. President
Of the University Of Virginia.
A decade, ago the idea OF a Fedora.
ton OF the World was the dream OF a
poet. To-day such federation IS the
practical programme OF chancellerles
and cabinets. The public opinion OF
the world using the agencies afforded
by modern science and operating un.
der the forms of representative gov,
ernment has come TO see that war be.
tween nations Is an intolerable viola.
ton Of the very essence of what is
termed civilization. The most impress.
sive thing in the world perhaps is the
spectacle of the American Republic
trying to grow rich and powerful, and
at the same time tbcontinue free and
10 establish justice and insure happi.
ness among its citizens. There is no
lack of difficult and perplexing .ques:.
tions Of wealth, Of. race, ofrepresenta.
tive government. of just taxation for
the wise decisions OF our statesmen.
but in a very real sense the largest
question submitted. in my Judgment
to an American Congress Is the ques.
tion of the ratification Of the arbitra.
ton, treaties recently negotiated by
the United States with Great Britain
and France. II these treaties are ap.
proved by the United States Senate
a step will have been taken that will
come very near preventing forever
devastating war. The removal OF war
from the pathway OF civilization would
be the superlative achievement OF the
ages. It Is difficult to overstate the
Importance to humanity Of the exam
pie OF three such nations as the Uni
ted States. Great Britain and France
agreeing to submit their controversies
to arbitral decision as. provided for
in these treaties. International under.
standing would tend to supplant inter.
national distrust and suspicion. The
whole peace propaganda, so long for.
warded by patient and iidealistic souls,
would be translated from the realm OF
hope to the realm oftreality and every
day stateeraft. The smaller nations
would be forced by economic consid;-
creations. at first and later by the clear
light of reason to follow the example
OF the great pioneers. II there are
technical and legal difficulties in the
way OF this great contamination,
there should be wisdom enough to get
them out OF the way II the response.
bilities and duties OF the American
Senate are invaded by the present pro.
posal, the genius OF compromise which
ias played so great part In our his.
tory should be brought to bear upon a
reasonable readjustment of this great
proposition. Here is a great vital In
lerest OF world Importance summing
up under solemn treaty obligations
the hopes aud dreams OF every good
man that ever lived and submitting
to an institutional test the great mod.
crn principle Of arbitration. 1t Is IN,
conceivable that these treaties should
fail for any lesser reason than oppo.
sitiou to the principle involved In
them. Their appeal is TO enlightened
self Interest as well as to. the larger
patriotism. The ancient mission Of
this Republic was to prove the prac'
ticabllity OF self government among
men. Under the guidance Of its Presi
dent 1t now assumes leadership in the
. movement to inaugurate the age Of
international understanding land jus
tice. 1t is the. logical advance to
make for a nation SO conceived. The
. nation that first organized democracy
: and gave 1t a will and soul has .
right to lead in organizing the ma
/, tions to the point where they shall
, comprehend and institutlonalize the
unity OF man. The Senate of the Uni
tied States Is not opposed. to these
treaties on principle. The thought
fu. public opinion of America demands
that their representatives in thell
greatest legislative body find way Il
ratiry these treaties in some effective
Just form and thus commit the Repub
} lie to- a policy of Justice, reason ant
: peace.