The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-06
KANSAS COMMENT
THE IAwLEss NATIONS.

THE LAWLESS NATIONS.
Might isn't right and the theory
that it is no longer generally accepted
in polite society. At least, this is true
among individuals, and there are laws
enforced to considerable extent to prove
it. But it seems there is no law be-
tween nations which binds them after
the fashion that controls individuals
within their confines. So Italy has
gone to war against Turkey, largely for
the reason that Italy wants Tripon,
and Turkey Is considered weak SIS
ter in the sorority of nations. Also,
Turkey has been busily engaged in
proving this is true. Its navy is
joke: its fortifications military play
houses and its army an armed mob
But that hardly justifies Italy's &C
ton, which is much in accord with
the theory that might is right So is
the stand of the other powers which
do but moralize. and depIore the fact
that there is nothing in international
law which gives them the power to IN
terfere. Again, if they do interfere,
it will be because of the fact that
their own precious interests are en-
dangered, or that they see chance
to extend their prestige and nlonspo-
lize the cigarette business or the trade
in oriental rugs.
But, while it isn't any kind Of a rule
to govern world controversies or house
hold affairs, there may be times when
might is right. and this may be one
ously a decadent nation, and even the
young Turks have fallen far from
bringing it up to occidental efficiency
Italy is enlightened and progressive,
and, in the lorg run, it may be a good
thing for Tripoli If it becomes Italian,
just as it helped the Transvaal to be-
come British, or the Philippines to turn
American. If 1T is, as often happens,
that the bone of contention is benehted
more than the conquering contender
might is right in this case, and Tur-
key isn't entitled to much syrnpa thy on
any account.
The depIorable part of it is that there
is no law of nations by which Italy
can prove it's claim without rapid
fire and high explosive argument; that
men who have no interest in the argu-
ment must die and suffer as part OF
the game.-Atchison Globe.
AN INSPECTOR OF ROMANCES.
A casual reading of the divorce court
proceedings in almost any city in this
country is sufficient to impress upon
the thinking public the need of an in
spector of romances. There are too
many counterfeit romances that pass
for the genuine until time shows up the
alloy, too many happy courtships that
do not end in the approved fashion
where they marry and live happily ever
after. Something is wrong, fearfully
wrong, when a court in Kansas City
can grant nearly sixty divorces in one
day and then not exhaust the docket;
when the most trivial of reasons can
be assigned as grounds for legal sepa-
ration and a court will give ear to the
story.
It cannot be denied that the great
trouble does not lies with the divorce
laws but with the marriage regula
lions and that an inspector of ro-
mances who would pass upon its
genuineness before it should be con-
summated could do much to lessen the
work of the district court on divorce
day: but as such a parsonage is out of
the question, parents might follow out
the idea to good advantage and by a
Ii tie judicious work in the matter of
such inspection save good deal of un-
happiness and humiliation for their
children.-Salina Journal