Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-30
MORAL FORCE OF j. s.,
NOT MILITARY, WOULD
KEEP WORLDS PEACE
Presidents Idea Is That Ma
tons Would Hesitate About
Violating Agreement With
America Involved in 1t
BIZ RALPH sAuTH-

WASHINGTON Jan 27.-The lapse
Of time has not leSsened interest in
President wilson's address to the Unit
ed States senate last Monday. AS
subject for thoughtful consideration
the address today commands first place
with senator's. representatives in con-
gress. editors, publicists. pacifists and
thinkers generally 1t will live forev-
er as one of the greatest. II not the
very greatest state paper written in
the history Of the American govern
ment
IL would be unusual IL an address OF
such moment should challenge general
approval The president himself did
not expect that the best thought OF the
country would harmonic in agreement
with the doctrine he pronounced he
expected that his views would meet
with objections and criticism, but ne
believed that he was speaking for the
vast majority Of the American people,
and the opinion is crystalizmS that
time will vindicats the wisdom OF his
suggestions
take any affirmative action with re-
spect to the presidents address The
Cumunfus resolution. proposing a 90
hour discussion Of the suggestions, may
be taken from the calendar and defeat-
ed. or tabled The same fate prooaoly
awaits the Borah resolution. commit
ting the senate in opposition TO the
suggested league OF nations TO ENFORCE
peace
some critics Of the address call II a
q dream but even 50 they admit that II
II could be realized il would bless the
nations and the people Of the world
They admit also that the president mas
furnished the people Of the world with
food for thought and pointed 70 them
more righteous relationship between ma
tions. He has shown way to let peo-
ME live their lives in peace and con-
tentment and a way for nations TO en-
foy- pArpetufty without a trampling
upon the weak by the strong. disre-
rard OF the few and weak by the many
and powerful.
WILL HELP RESTORE PEASE
The impression is erroneous that the
president meant by his speech TO form
a league OF nations, with an international
court controlling a police force furnish
"a nv the nations party TO the league
There was nothing IN the address TO
iustify such conclusion His Sugges-
ton OF the use of the authority and pow
er OF the United States to help preserve
ueace viewed in its proper light is an
expressfon that cannot but be helpful 20
encourage the nations now al war 10
make peace
The DOSSE0le EnONHoE6 OF NAAdN GAC
warning nations think with respect TO
the restoration Of peace may have been
a controlling influence with the president
in his address II is probably true that
the greatest obstacle today in an enorS
for peace So far as Great Britain and
her allies are concerned. is the fear that
at a subsequent time they may not be
able TO unite and may individually be
crushed by Germany
The obstacle probably that confronts
Germany Is the fact that already the
burden Of meeting the interest on her
war debt Is equal 10 the entire cost OF
her military establishment before the
war. Obviously, the German nation
could not live and maintain the heavy
charge Of her war debt and her military
establishment With the close or the
war she must yield a large part or her
military system. and no stretch OF the
Imagination 10 required to see that Ger
many hestitates TO conclude peace that
will in the end result in her unooing.
She feels safer to continue the war.
THE CONCERT. OF NATIONS
And now the presidents suggestion Of
. a concert OF nations in the interest OF a
permanent peace becmes more apparent
He spoke OF throwing the authority and
power of the United States into a league
of nations TO preserve the peace OF the
world.
Mr.. Wilson no doubt believes that an
assurance TO the nations pow at war
that the authority and power of the Uni
ted States in concert with the majority
Of these nations to preserve permanent
peace, would deter any one OF the billi-
gerents, II peace were made. from in at
ter years renewing the war.
As they all really now wish peace, is IL
not possible that this assurance by the
president Of the greatest nation OF the
world. will help to close the war in Eu-
rope?
The allies would feel safe to abandon
the war secure in the knowledge that
the authority and power of the United
States would be used to prevent them
= from being individually crushed by a su-
perior power.
Germany and the central powers
would feel secure 10 lessen the burdens
CO the cost Of their military establish
ments, knowing that the authority and
power OF the United States would be
'exerted to prevent them from being
crushed
II seems 20 me that the suggested