Norwich bulletin., 1918-11-20
FACTS AND COMMENT

defeat of the Hun. Until this was ac- complished the very existence of the social order was threatened. Now with the armistice signed and victory in hand, civilization faces a problem no less difficult and threatening, namely. the reconstruction of distracted world. This does not refer to the re- building of Serbia and the devastated parts of Belgium and France. Enor- nous as is this task, it is yet only a question of labor and material. Civil iZation's greatest problem is the rescue of the world from anarchy.
 The Hohenzollerns were in danger ous business when they used hol- shevism, as tool to cut through their iron riIg of enemies. The desperate nature of their cause even then is proved by their desperate choice of weapons All possible care was taken that the fire do it's work thoroughly in Russia, but once kindled it was not to be confined at will. Bolshevism was to accomplish in 1918 what Russian sluggishness was to have done in 1914, enable Germany to crush her western enemies and then be free to deal with the east. Whether native Russian monarchy or German -fostered anar- chy, neither was to prove the slightest obstacle to the armies of autocracy. When kultur had overthrown the forces of civilization it could easily was chaos. It did not trouble the conscienceless Hohenzollerns, this de- liberate intention to kick from be- meath them the ladder by which they would have reached the pinnacle of power.
 That kuItur planned ultimately to destroy bolshevism no one can doubt, for bolsnevism would put in power those who have nothing, the Hehen- zollerns would keep in power those who had everything. But, as often happens, the fiends who kindled the fire have. themselves perished by forces beyond their control, and it is no longer the 1ohenzollerns but civil ization that faces the task of ,extin
 gushing the flames. It is but wreck of Germany's former self that the kaiser has abandoned. With hope of victory gone,s bankruptcy at hand hunger stalking the land and disci- pline everywhere relaxed, the forces of disorder have their opportunity even as Lenine and Trotzky found theirs in a starving and hopeless Russia. Ger manys twenty-odd kingdoms, duchies and principalities are mostly in the throes of revolution. "No peace with 1 the Hohenzollerns' was our cry until | recently, but now with whom shall a 1 peace be made? The allies have beat en the pirate captain but must appar- ently settle with every member of the l pirate crew. As a military power the German states are no longer fornid able but as political and social problem there is need of infinite wis dom, firmness and patience. The statesmen about the peace table will l have the opportunity to show the wisdom, two million soldiers will sup
 ply the necessary firmness and the populations of the victorious countries
 must have the patience to see the great task to it's completion.
 1 If like a ravenous pack of wolves the Germans would fall to and consume each other, it would perhaps be the 1 easiest way out of the difficulty, but as it is Germany must first be fed All experience teaches that such a state of disorder as exists there ta- day cannot be confined by politica boundaries Even as the world faces greater danger from pestilence now that intercourse has been resumed
 than it did when the frontiers were colsed, so the spirit of holsheyism i'
 more to be dreaded in peace than ir | war Germany must be nourishet back to a physical state where polit- ical health is possible before she car pay for the destruction that she haE wrought and become a safe member 0
 international society. This is tht great problem that civilization face!
 today. To conquer and subdde tll'
 enemy is easy compared with living
 in his country and forcing him to ad just himself to a new order imposed from without Permanent occupanc,
 of Germany is not anticipated, bu months and perhaps years must elapst
 before we may safely withdraw "Dit Yacht am Rhein."
 l President Wilson has just announcet his intention of sailing for France i'm
 mediately after the reopening of con
 gress in order to take part in the dis
 cussion and settlement of the mail
 features of the treaty of peace Tn. peace congress proper will abl,
 not meet before January and tn
 president is planning to be hom,
 again before that time. Hence it i
 not as a member of the conference
 that he would appear but merely as
 participant in a more or less informa
 discussion at which the views of tn
 administration would be clearly SC
 forth. There would be a distinctl, | WlII
 should the president of the Unite, States sit in the peace conferenc proper, inasmuch as he would by vir , tue of his office outrank the premier
 or other statesmen whom the allie might send to represent them. Tn
 dignity of the United States woul demand that it's chief executive presid over men of lower rank, and the feel , ings of all Europe would be needless ly offended by the thought that Amer ica should thus lead in the affairs 0
 the other hemisphere. While the wis
 dom of the presidents journey
 questioned in some quarters. there i tno doubt that Mr. Wilson is the ma, , to whom the allies pay the greates ; deference at this juncture, and b
 reason of Americas disinterest in tn
 material settlement of the Europea question, proposals from him will b well received.
 The presence of social unrest is feI not alone in Germany and Russia, Tn = sudden end of the great war is fraugh f with problems for the land of the vic
 tor TO less than for that of the van : ouished. AS always happens in tim E of war, wages have been far highe
 than can be maintained in time (
 peace. Just as a man will give hi
 all for the loaf that will keep hir from starving, so a government mus y pay any price to preserve it's exist 0 ence. The labor policy of the Unite
 States, though in the main successft f in getting the essential work done, ha :, not been successful in discovering foundation on which labor trouble may be settled. The readiness of tn
 government to pay anything for war y essentials set the manufacturers { = bidding against each other in the labe c market. Only late in the war was th !. U. $. employment service organize ? to check this demoraIizing practic