Washington Journal., 1916-11-03

At~ ~ hiAAiCH SNAo dAhd9NN thOheh NtS
reunited Anglo-Saxon Cor rather Celt-
anglian) nation.
When the United States can thus
gain the immortal honor of stopping
the war and making peace permanent,
what shall we think of those counsel
lors who tell us that all such proposals
must wait till the war is over2 Go to
the battlefelds and look at the myriads
of mangled human beings lie down in
the trenches for a few hours under a
rain of shells then tell us whether the
only proposal that can stop such hor-
rors must wait till the horrors cease
from lack of victims.
No one who has any powers of OBJ
servation can have failed to note that
the trend of public opinion in this coun-
try is irresistibly toward an alliance
for the maintenance of peace. Presi-
dent Wilson, on May 27, openly de-
clared it to be the duty of the United
States to take part in any feasible asso-
citation of nations" for that purpose,
There is hardly a prominent man in
the country but has expressed the same
opinion. In response to a petition from
81 members of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, Hon. William Schley
Howard, Congressman from Atlanta,
recently addressed to the members of
the American Economic Association a
circular asking their opinion on the pro-
posal to introduce at the next session
of Congress a resolution to the effect
that the United States, after the Euro
pean war, shall offer to conclude a de-
fensive alliance with Britain, France
and Germany" The replies are strongly
indicative of a prevalent conviction that
the continued adherence to our tradi-
tional policy of no alliances would be a
base dereliction of duty.
Vast sums are today available for
peace work. A small fraction of those
funds would suffice to start a magazine
with a title and program somewhat as
follows:
THE FOUR DEMOCRACIES
A Magazine Devoted to the Advocacy
of a Defensive Alliance
of the
-Four Great Educated Democracies-
Britain, France, Germany and the
United States
as the Surest Means to Establish Per-
manent Peace
and to Bring Liberty, Enlightenment and
Prosperity
to Backward and Oppressed Nations
1t may not be rash to assert that such
a magazine, by preparing the way for
the only feasible association Of ma
tons" strong enough to enforce peace,
and capable, through identity Of inter
ests, of remaining united and acting as
a unit, would do more for the cause
of peace than all other agencies com
bined. Being neither anti-British nor
anti German, but both pro-British and
pro-German, and constantly presenting
the British and the German viewpoint
side by side, it would be a constant
monitor urging them to inquire into
each others motives.
The mere repetition of the phrase,
the four democracies," would lead to
the inquiry and discussion which are
needed to undo the work of those reck-
less p~hrasemakers and deliberate SLAM
derers who have created the prevalent
impression that there is such a thing as
absolutism in Germany. Some persons
indeed, having once formed an opinion,
would not change it ever though one
should rise from the dead; but those
who possess a fund of sincerity and
power of self-analysis would grow
ashamed on finding that they had be-
lieved an evil report not because they
had sufficient grounds for their relief
but because they liked it.
In brief, Britain and Germany continue
fighting because they do not know how
to stop with safety. By offering Ii
alliance to both, we can enable them TO
stop with safety and with the greatest
advantage to ourselves, because the day
will soon come when we shall need all
lies. By making this offer we can in
sure permanent peace, so far as human
foresight can discern. Refusal to make
the offer would mean the continuance
of the frightful slaughter and the in
definite postponement of permanent
peace. 1t remains to be seen whether
those of our citizens who are guided by
reason, honor, humanity and regard for
their country's glory can outvote the
fogies who are constitutionally opposed
to everything that has not been done
before.
ROBERT STEIN.
227 F St, N. E.,