Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-08-08
The English Speaking League.

BY 2. w. WILSON.

'ea OF the London Daily News.
But even it be wise to defer recognising
british sacrifices for the common cause
1t Is wise-there are many ways
whereby America can help US through q
ct1sls OF severe nervous strain. And, in
particular, she>can restrain In tendency
70 invidious comparisons. We, on our
side. do not contrast our casualties with
those of others. You, on your side.
should realize how loyal we are to our
tried and tested generals.
1t Is not only for the sake OF America.
nor or Britain, that some of US hope for
MS English speaking alliance. We wish
the league of peace to be a reality. The
pillars OF that league must be America
and Britain. Without them. no league
league is not romance, not sentiment, but
haro, dull service of mankind.
Few of us would wish to stimulate Inn
periallsm whether here or in Britain. But,
as 1t seems to me. America must either
acknowledge her responsibility for guid-
ing weaker peoples through their diff
cult upward evolution. or If she stands
accept an unavoidable obligation. Empire
Is not a circus. 1t is q wearisome routine.
There are no big headlines in Sierra
Leone. My uncle. who married David
Ltvingsone's daughter. died there OF
FEVER. Empire is largely a sacrifice of
lives. Sometimes it is the supreme sacri-
flee.
Empire Is not the word that We want.
Inc r aim Is brotherhood. 1t is in the
missionary. not the commercial spirit.
that we should approach great commune
ties like the Chinese. They need our doc
tors, our literature, our art-whatever Of
gospel or good news we have to tell-and
the telling should be it's own reward. All
that we do should be in International
terms. But that country within an inter-
national league will exercise the most
direct influence which can produce tho
best men to execute tho international
law. IN the end, it will be the capacity
Tor saDrifice which will tell most. In the
end the meek will inherit the earth. For
this reason, Great Britain has taken the
lead in placing her armies, as at Saloniki.
and her fleets as In the Aegean, under
foreign command. Her troops have &C.
cepted orders from Italians and Serbians.
aer ships think it an honor, on occasion,
to obey American Instructions.
International Justice must be enforced
by International power. But many of
us are of opinion that this mutual abne-
cation must be subject to essential eff
cheney. Nations lise men must qualify
themselves for efficiency. They must lay
aside vanity, jealousy. the petty emo
tons. The forces which they promise,
whether for peace or war. must be there,
as promised. And no scheme, no diplo-
macy, will change caNee and effect
whereby the nation whicE f;an be trusted
will be trusted.
influence is world wide. 1t comprises the
whole of America, Africa and Australasia,
| with nearly all Asia Int that part of
Europe which was included IN the Holy
Roman empire. But 1 agrte that the
league of nations should aim at being
universal. We wan no enlarged balance
Of power. entangling the ne6 world az
we'll as the old. Economic eAelusion of
the central powers should be. therefore.
a weapon. not a system. Some day, Ger
many's madness will abate. Th&t day has
not yet come. Many believe 1t 20 be far
distant. I do not pretend to know. But
OF this I am certain: Germany will suffer
full measure of retributton for her crimes,
and 1t will only be as a repentent and
chastened people that she can hope to
obtain entrance into the fellowship Of the
| countries which she has 80 deeply
/ wronged.
It is not the press, alone, or mainly.
that will bird our peoples together. Hun
| dreds Of thousands of American aoldiers
! are meeting French, British and Italian
soldiers for the first time In actual COM
radeship. What these men say and think
OF each other will largely determine the
brotherhood of mankind. Your crusaders
go forth on a double mission-to conquer
German enmity and to win European
friendship. l do not know what impress
sion Britain is making or their minds.
Time will show. Enough, for the moment,
tina America is sending forth a grand
the worlds DESTINED. who will return In
due course to tell what thew have seen.