Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-30
WAR MAY HASTEN
LEAGUE OF. NATIONS
Senator Sherman Predicts
Good in That Direction as
Result of Present Conflict.
MAKES PLEA FOR u. S.
TO REMAIN NEUTRAL
Speaks at Memorial Day Exercises
at Grants Tomb in
New York.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

NEW YORK. May 30-A prediction
that the present war in Europe will
hasten by years a league of nations for
common defense and the rule of justice
was made by Senator Sherman of I'LL
nois. speaking today at the memorial ex-
ercises at Grants tomb. He made a
strong plea that the United States should
remain neutral during the present strife
and that it should take a leading part
in effecting permanent peace plan.
How often out of evil comes good
he said. The present war will hasten
by years a league of nations for COM
mon defense. Once / I was called d
dream. Now it is a potential reality
The highest expression of craftsmanship
lies in a union of nations to enforce
peace. 1t will make the narrower pa
triotism of today seem like the tribal
allegiance of d primeval race. The
tendency of the age blazes- the way to
a Judgment seat of nations before which
justice shall rule and the sword shall
be drawn only against an outlaw power
that asSails a member of the league
Force is not the law of human life Do
We not, protect the weak" Brutal strength
is not our ruler Humanity SwayS the
modern world at last. ii is the perfected
onsprlng of civilized man or it must be
admitted the Caucasian race has failed
IN its mission in the world
Let the American people prepare for
the third Hague convention and throw
the mighty influence OF our country into
the greatest issue of the civilized world
Smaller nations have a right to live and
hold their territory. The days of spolia-
ton ana subjugation will be made inn
possible Territorial robberieS by the
strong Will be an international crime A
cutpurse of empires will be a pirate No
nation will be able to blockade an ocean,
nor the open sea be closed at the caprice
OF arbitrary power.
Cannot Hope All to Join.
The eternal operation of moral
truths can be the only future basis of
permanent peace. Principles remain
from generation to generation while
human nature is on earth. The appIi-
cation of principles to new conditions
and novel instruments of warfare until
us abolition Will call for the wisest
action of civilized nations and for the
greatest patience of the best of men
We cannot hope that even all civilized
nations will enter league not to en-
gage in war against each other. We
may reasonably hope. however, that a
sufficient number of the great powers
may unite to join their military
81! .nsJn and their navies against out
idN HdtioHS. as civil society JOINS TO
protect itself against the lawless. In
That union the potential might of their
armies and navles Will act as deter
rent force against the power that seeks
to- live and commit aggression by the
sword.
This memorial is dedicated to the
martial spirit of the great rebellion.
He.e rests all that is mortal of its
Silent chief. No tomb holds nobler
dust. Calm in adversely. he was obedi-
ent even under injustice. His patriot
ism is an Inspiration. His military
genius lives in the art of war. He
fought that peace might come. His
battles were to break the military
power of his country's enemy. He had
no wanron purpose to make war fright
full. He only made it effective that it
might the sooner end. He never forgot
he was shedding American blood
Speaking again of the war today, Sena-
tor Sherman said:
Where is now more justice in actual
neutrality than armed conflict. Joining
with either belligerent in present wars
strains the sympathies and weakens the
bonds of many bloods now loyal to the
republic, but reluctant to war against
their kin across the sea. The struggle in
Europe is the elimination of centuries. 1t
is born of territorial aggression, of COM
rnercial rivalries, of racial hate. the stub
born pride and ambition of kings, of the
feEds OF thousand years. Why should
mingled with the combatants, whose bat
tinents?