The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-02-17
The Declaration
of Interdependence
~ Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright 1915. by Frank CTane)

In considering President Wilson's
speech to the senate and 10 the world
it is necessary to keep in mind the great
fundamental fact that is bound sooner or
later to dominate this whole war issue.
And that fact is that the wan will
never end, permanently and without max
ing probably another war just as soon a.
the exhausted combatants can get their
Windmill never, can never end, except
by radical change in the principles OF
world politics; that is by the substi-
tuition OF some form of federation or
world government for the present system
of independent nation groups.
Anybody who Is capable Of thought at
all must see that it is either some sort Of
cooperation among all nations or con-
tinued destruction. 1t is the League TO En-
force Peace, or some equivalent of that
proposition, or chaos forever.
Mr.. Wilson's address is valuable in that
it contains this, the only regeneratve
idea upon the subject SO far all the dis
tussions in state papers, public pronounce
ments. and even newspaper editorials,
have been fioundering In the mire Of old
ideas, such as the idea Of independent
nationalism as against the world, the idea
that wars can only end thru decided VIC
tory, ideas that have come down to VI
from the darkness Of former ages, ideas
utterly unsuited to modern conditions.
While we may criticize this or that In
Mr. Wilson's statement, the sound sense
Of the world will recognize the invulner-
ability Of his main position, his most i'm
portant implication, that war can be def
initely abated only by the nations of the
world getting together and cooperating
to prevent war.
The objection that he United States
must not be associated with other ma
tons TO prevent war. because it will be q
departure from our policy of avoiding
"entangling alliances" Is silly. OF course.
Washington had nothing Of this kind In
mind when he used that phrase. The
proposed alliance would be an untangling,
not an entangling, alliance.
Our Presidents speech Is the FIRST sane
and coherent word that has been spoken
in the forum Of nations upon the CUES
ton Of war.
It is the first appeal, from responsible
authority, not to the kings and diplomats,
but directly to the peoples, Of the world
II is objected that his proposal Is not
practical Anything Is impractical that
cannot be done under existing conditions
But under existing conditions nothing Ii
possible except continued destruction II
is time, therefore, to change the existing
circumstances, time for the ideal, the
impractical suggestion that shall call us
from our insane obsessions back TO plain
common sense and the humanities.
The western world has spoken. It's
voice is clean of the cobwebs of medieval
ism. Its tone Is pregnant with the fu-
ture.
The Manchester Guardian justly says
Of Mr. Wilson's address
1T is a splendid policy. nobly express
ed. How will it be received? By the
peoples everywhere, we cannot doubt,
joyfully; by men Of good will and en-
hghtenment everywhere not less JOY
fully and with clear perception that
this is no vision of Utopia, but we'll
thought-out and justly-framed scheme Of
a man in a great position and versed in
great affairs"
History may estimate this address OF
our President as a Declaration of Interde-
pendence of no less world significance
than the American Declaration Of indie.
pendence.