Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-16
AMERICA AT THE PEACE TABLE

| AMENlCA n u f1E fEAOE IAbbE
We May Exercise in the Final Councils Of
the War an Influence as Great as That
Which We Exerted in the Field
a their uproar in Europe statesmen
everywhere found themselves suddenly
confronted with new and unexpected
| forces that yet may try their souls as
terribly as German militarism ever did.
| Omens of unrest are everywhere in
Europe Even in the nations that have
| been victorious there is disposition to
scrutinize and question the motives of
| Go7ernments. Pain has made the peo-
pies acutely sensitive.
In the news from Germany and Aus
tria and the Netherlands and Sweden.
as well as in temperamental reactions
| throughout the rest Of Europe, there are
implications of distrust of many of the
codes and practices heretofore accepted
without question as normal and inev-
table.
1t is idle and periIous to deny that the
war has reused and liberated new i'm
pulses of mmeasurable energy beneath
the social fabric Of the Old World The
leaders Of European civilization are
actually on trial. They will be required
within the next six months to define
anew the ends and aims of nationality.
to reveal the inspiration Of their earlier
policies and to justify the political prin-
ciples that have kept nations in arms
against each other for centuries. and
above all to give practical assurances of
their ability to set up a sort of system
that will make new wars impossible.
floyd GEORGE when he said in
AIpars a day or two ago that Germany
must be fed and aided and that hate is
out Of fashion was not moved by any new
sense of altruiSm alone. He knew that
the peoples Of Europe are sick of hating
each other and that they are seeking
now to uncover and destroy the agencies
that made their unnatural cnmity un-
avoidablc. He knew. too. that it is not
the fate of nations that is in the bal
anCc now but the fate of the existing
order all over the continent. He wants
peace not only in the field but in the
minds of the people. He knows that
hunger and disorder cannot help to that
sort of peace.
In the Netherlands. Immediately
tho former Kaiser of Germany had set
tied himself comfortably after his flight,
there was a new reStivencSs among the
radicals. The ominous soldiers and
workmen's council" appeared in the news
from the Netherlands. Here was vivid
suggestion of the force of the popular
resentment sure to be visited upon any
one or any group that seems hereafter to
be associated with the powers of evil in
government.
1t is altogether likely that revolution
Of public opinion will occur in any coun-
try where William Hohenzolcm is har-
bored and that the presence Of the for
mer war lord might finally be the inspi-
ration Of revolution far moro destructive
SO it must be in lesser ways with any
of those who are known to have brought
the war about and any others who may
be suspected of willingness to foment
new national hatreds and rvalries in the
future.
To statesmen at the coming peace
conference will fall the task of answer
ing and convincing the doubling, the pas
sionate, the disillusioned and the rebel
liouC in tho yariouc coupt,ins b,t l,,,.o
endured the suffering of the worst of all
wars. The time is one of self-question-
ing in every European government. For
tunately for mankind, the American
policy has been directed from the begin
ming with an almost prophetic insight
The overwrought masses of Europe can
fling no accusing questions at US. Our
motives were clearly expressed. They
are clearly understood. Our great serv-
ice was not only in the field. We have
done something even greater by demon
strating the validity of the theory of
free government in proving its unselish-
ness and its idealism. For that reason
alone American influence at the peace
conference will be as great an aid to
hafassed European statesmen as our
armies were to the fighting men who
preceded them in France.
Mr.. Wilson may surprise the country
by going to Europe to attend the ses-
sions Of the conference. 1t is not diff
cult to understand why the heads of
Allied Governments are eager to have
him do So The President of the United
States sitting at the peace table might
be expected to exercise a steadying in
fiuence on the opinion of all Europe. He
would be an answer to the radicals who
| insist that none of the Governments
which participated in the conditions
! leading I'D to the war can he uhnll,,