Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-14
HISTORIC BLUNDER POINTS
A MODERN MORAL


= Danish provinces and failed. The Ger.
nan claim to Schleswig. .Holstein was
founded on a myth that reached back 20
the time of King CORN the Old. who had
rolgned in Denmark in post-Chariemagne
pertods The merits Of the controversy
had been understood thoroughly by one
man. but he went mad. Subsequently two
others. after years Of study. mastered the
olsrnents of the issue and they disagreed.
81 Accordingly Austria, England, France,
Prussia and Russia in 1852 entered into
Z compact that "the state Of the posses
oions actually united under the Crown Of
Denmark should be maintained in It's in
togrity." Prussia signed with men,
tai reservation, and by 1863 it had be-
come apparent that she intended TO get
Gchleswig- -Holstein in spite of all agree
xments, compacts or treaties. July 23 of that
year Lord Palmerston declared in the
House of Commons that "if any violent
attempt were made TO overthrow the
rights. and interfere with the independ-
ence of Denmark, those who made the at.
tempt would find in the result that It
would not be Denmark alone with which
they would have to contend" Bismarck
n England and he trusted them. In the
4bllowing January he sent the Prusslan
armies into the duchies, which they
quickly overran. Thereafter there was an
armistice and conference in London. but
there was no moving Prussia from her
position and 1t became apparent that hos
diities would be renewed.
Would England fight? Palmerston was
~ no doubt as to what she ought 10 do
hut the Queen and Mr.. Gladstone were
aeainst him. At the meeting of the Cabi
net on June 25. the Prime Minister held
hiB head down and acknowledged his de-
fat in these words. II think the Cabinet
IL against war" That was Saturday and
On Monday the Times announced in detail,
the result "of the most important delibera
lions in which English statesmen have IN
cur time been engaged"
Probably the Times would have been
even more emphatic rs to the Importance
e the deliberations had It known that the
eonciusion reached was destined to lead
- the present might catastrophe. But the
Hfrnes E.Ad supported the inglorious policy
~ pacifism and was to see Prussia, having
NJ one bite Of the cherry. take another
l1te in Austria, n third in France and
than turn to make the world its oyster
xngland had indeed avoided n smail war
Int she had yielded to the highwayman:
- had taught him to believe that he could
0qfk his will in spite of treaties; she had
mitted him to add to his strength and
~ pessivity she had allowed him to grow
~. the stature of a giant. The rape OF the
MAish provinces was the prelude to the
1Ins Of 1914. Compromise had served, as
Gonerally does. simply to postpone the
\ Ia1 settlement and have it found under
6Gnitely more intricate and terrible con-
llons.
& There are pacifists who yet hope that
|10f armies in France need never fight.
},ofr eyes are fixed on a negotiated peace.
Iloy care nothing about German aspira-
-. nothing about the commercial and
Meal Juggernaut the Kaiser has built
11dIo Europe, for they know nothing
International politics is too deep
Heir appreciation. They believe that
~ phrases and formulas can bring
3 peace. few settlements Of unim-
font details providing the necessary
6pflnge, and militarism being left in
1ledsl unbroken and unchecked. They
70 do now what England did in
<nacrince honor and interest for
not realizing. as England did not
~ that peace with the present Ger.
oould never be more than truce.
- Of the leopard cling to him.
~ England nor the world can af-
make another mistake now.c2 We
" edge Of the precipice and must
~ or be ruined. Heaven help US
frickcd by diplomats or by our
nhs. We've got to think straight
rhooe straight. There is no es-
Il The fourteen conditions Of
1own By President Wilson con-
7af1's Bzll Of Rights. They
~ ~ Infarnstienal con-