Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-11-28

life which we nave CHOSEN 10 i've.
Two characteristics have distinguish
ed the modern European life in which
we have share. The first is inter.
nationalism, the second is demo
crazy.
IntCrnationalism is the solution
Which we have been endeayo~ing an
successfully endeayoring TO re;.C., OF
tho problems incident 10 the national
state. The most noticeable pheLome-
non OF modern Em opean pol;:'cal life
has been the development of the ma
tional state. While the ideal of the
national state has been only approx
mated, while all races have not been
politically organized, and while some
races have found a home in more than
one state, at the same time the cock
istence of a number of politically SOW
ereign organizations has of itself been
a denial of the idea of world domino
ton.
Internationalism is the method
which has been adopted for regulating
the relations of these separate politi-
cal organizations. Rules of conduct
have been generally adopted to which
all members of the family of nations
| have in the past rendered obedience
| The ideal OF internationalism has Of
course not been completely realized,
but enough progress had been made
prior to the outbreak of the present
war to justify the belief that rea-
sonable approximation to that ideal
would ultimately be reached. No
country perhaps has in the past cen
fury contributed more to the realiza-
ton Of the ideals of inteTnationalism
than the United States. This country
has always stood for those principles
the application of which would. on
the one hand. lessen the probability
CI the development OF hostile relations
p between states and. on the other
= would offer a means for the peaceful
settlement OF such disputes as NIGH
arrive. Americas past history thu!
Q causes her to have a peculiar interes
! in the further development OF tn,
{ principles of decentralization.
The maintenance even of the &C
= cepted principles OF internationalisn
Is. however. Inconsistent with the cor
y ception of world control which is a
u present the handspring of Germa
u policy. That policy can not recogniz
any such thing as equality anon
n political groups. All must be subord
= mated to the one great power. 1
@ therefore. we are to hope for the flu
= Their development Of an internationa
8 life We must fight to the death &c,
o man pretensions.
The second characteristic OF moder
y European life has been the dcvelol
u ment of democracy. Democratic idea
originated in England. They weI
brought to this country when 1t wa
u colonized and received devclopmer
> which was hardly dreamed of in III
y land OF their birth. Thence the
|" spread to France and through Franc
to most of western Europe. The seed
J. OF democratic ;doas ~. In cr.
@ Germany among the thorns of aut,
J. cratic government and tho thorn
n sprung up and choked them. Just a
p the French Revolution and the NJ
n poleonic wars brought democracy
= most Of western Europe. so tho pre-
N ent war has given it to Russia whcI
o. autocracy in its extreme form Ia
Al been able 10 maintain itself.
" We have therefore allied again
u German autccraCy practically all
- western Europe. together with Japa
~ Russia. and the United States. n n
" autocratic governments OF the cer
T. trail powers are successful in this wa
1t democracy will be Judged failure an
j. the struggle and agony OF centurlc
4 will have gone almost for n1ught.
h In other words. most OF the Trims
& for tho realization Of which the fount
!. ers OF this country struggled and fc
G which Americans have stood durln
, our century or more of indppedner
political existence are at Issue in thI
war. The national stale with its II
II cidents, Internationalism. self govern
ments. and democracy, all nre I'm
perllcd The war is thus an America
war even II no single battle is Tough
o nour own coil. IF. with God FOL
bid, throug hthc victory OF the ccntra
powers over our European allies. tn
conflict were brought to our shores
our efforts would in APPLICABILITY b.
but the desperate struggles OF the vic
tim whose fate was due to the fac