The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-05-17

The peace OF the world in the
future. il n Is To be sought and
maintained. can BE- secured only
10y some sort OF alliance between
the worlds free demOcracies. The
United States. being the greatest
democracy the world has yer
seen. a no longer stand aloof.
The republic will have TO play her
part In international affairs and
aid In the creation Of what we
may call the International Mind.
Lord Bryce once said
Nations respond TO the appeal
made 10 them a. a time of a great
national crisis If they have been
trained TO love truth and honor. 10
cherish and liberty
II civilization today has no faith
In those principles. IL Is not dit
'tcult 10 prophecy tho result of
the war. But If the people OF the
storm tossed countries Of Europe
are willing 10 unite with America
IN rebuilding the shattered fabric
Of International law and OF broken
treaties. the tragedy We are Wit
Messing may not have been alto
gcther in vain. The old ordinances
and the old humanitics which. for
the time being. have disappeared.
Will take their place again as the
primal source Of true national
greatness.
Whatever may he the particular
solutions available for the exist
ing European problems. whatever
theories may obtain with regard
to International relations. ~ is
essential for the future Of the
dCmoCraCIcs which are the guard
ians OF mankind that their men
and women shall think clearly ON
these vital matters. The general
tendency Of such an education iu
ComOn must To- TO take the ques-
tion- Ct "a nations foreign rcia-
uons out of the domain OF secret
diplomacy and place them in the
hands Of we'll informed committees
that shall D" in touch with b
people OF the country in every
case.
The result OF the war cannot
but make inevitable some such
development II is the mass or
the people who suffer most OF All
from q great war and IL is they
who will desire-and justly-a
voice in the futures peace or
strife.
With secret diplomacy and what
has proved to be- abortive states
mau-hip eliminated. there is little
doubt hat the mass OF the Ger
man people would have dis
CouutsuauCcd the conflict. and this
Notwithstanding the fact hat tho
German theory Of the State has
OF seized hold OF the German
imagination and still plays a very
important part in the prolungatiou
OF tho war.
There is no doubt that. had there
been more publicity in tho foreign
affairs Of Great Britain. and the
foreign policy OF Sir Edward Grey
been subjected To- the constant
scrutiny Of a well informed
electorate. some at least OF the
,auses which made the war un-
avoidable would have been obviat-
ed.
The French people. as a whole.
had no desire for the war. ~ is
proved nv the fact that French
statesmen had so much difficulty
in securing the measure or pre-
parcdness which their leaders
deemed necessary.
Russia. existing under 2 govern
meut so purely au~toCratIc. finds
IT'S masses. naturally. playing little
or no part IN determining large
national issues: but the Russian
people. as a whole. are peace
loving and unaEEreSsive.
Italy. OF course. had ample time.
had She so wished. 20 take a
pIebiscIte OF hcr subjects. indeed.
popular opinion IN Italy eventually
expressed itself ln favor OF war
But We have 20 remember. in this
special ase that Italy saw three
OF the great European powers In