The daily Alaska citizen., 1919-11-07
THE PROPHETS OF DISUNION
(Ncw York GIobc)

An indifferent observer of our icad- |mg political controversy might be led to believe that the American of today iS radio |aIIy different from that of year ago. He might even be puzzled to account for Il disappearance, or complete transformation |of whole classes of men who were then urging closer union with Great Britain. France, and Italy as the only means of safety for civilization. He would recall that year ago it was dangerous, both be- cause of the law and because of ones fcI- low citizens, to denounce any of our allies One man, at least, went to a federal prison because he depicted, for moving picture patrons, the sins of England dmInt the revolution. These suppressions are not recalled with any great amount of pride, but they were indicative of an intensity of feeling upon this subject.
 The more admirable aspect of the situ- ation was that sympathy, that willingness to cooperate, that disposition to sink di'- fercnceS and forget jcalousics, that recog- milton of the brotherhood of Americans, Englishmen, Frenchmen. BelgianS, Italians, and all others who fight ill a good common cause, which the great mass of Americans displayed. There seemed to be a real move ment, not toward mouotonous intclmatiou- aIism, but toward permanent community of purpose in certain important matters. This movement might have degcncrated into military and naval alliance of the oId-faoh- toned type. England and America alone might easily have dominated the world, at least for some years. An alliance of this nature was in fact advocated by some earn est gentlemen who were not at all In sym pathy with the idea of the league of ua- tions. But as the league of nations pro- posal grew into controversy, and as the controversy became political and personal, even this limited aspiration passed away, and now senators and editors who were ready a year ago to take the most vim dictive measures against the distubers of mter-allied harmony are themselves ychc- mentIy preaching hatred and disunion.
 England has been the butt of most of this ill humor. She is an easy mark, if one will but forget the millions of common Englishmen who went into battle on the western front with some hope of democracy in their hearts, and the hundreds of thou sands who died for that same ideal. She is fair game, if all that we will admit to be England is the house of lords and a few |outworn diplomats. Her six votes damn her forever in the eyes of American lovers of democracy if they ignore the fact that she is in certain respects nearer democracy than we are. Ill-founded prejudices old lies, bIunders, and crimes of an officia class which is already tottering, stir up an unreasoning rancor against all her strug- gling well intending millions.
 On this shifty basis stand men of the calibre of Reed (and, unhappily, some of much higher calibre) shouting for interna- tional anarchy Yet at heart America is lwhat she was a year ago. Make her un- |dcrstand that this can be made not a league of politicians or diplomats but a league of of peoples and she will rally to its support l Otherwise what is there left of that fine |enthusiasm of 1917? And what inscription shall we put up above the graves of our dead?