Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-03-11

ency of mankind to form larger and larger
units. This element was the guarantee of
the intrinsic personal rights of the individ-
ual under forms of law. The foreign
sojourner and the conquered tribe were
accorded rights less in quantity and quality
than those of the Roman Citizen but never
theless valuable. AS the Roman empire
increased it's rule this part of it's law in
creased in inherent justice, and in the time
of Christ the citizens of conquered provinces
were not only left largely free, but had the
opportunity of becoming Roman citizens
themselves, while in any case an appeal to
Caesar would override local authorities.
Roman law lies at the foundation of I'LL
Occidental statecraft, and this ability to
coaIesce under it without regard to religion,
race, or culture in many ways played an
important part in political affairs.
Medieval Leagues After the barbarian
invasion of Europe and the fall of the
Roman empire in the west the only bond of
union was the Church of Rome. At one
time the pope was the only effective au-
thority and, by a considerable mixing in
secular politics, gradually acquired a control
over Europe through the Holy Roman En-
pire, whose head was crowned by the pope.
This league from the coronation Of Charlie
magne in 500 until the treaty of West
phalia in 1648, dominated European polit-
ical life, but never developed vital institu-
tions of it's own.
The crusades were a form of league of
nations for a particular purpose, the recov-
cry of the Holy Land, and the presence of
the Moslem Turk in Europe, itself the
reason for the crusades, resulted in nu-
merous plans of a political league directed
against 1.-The infidel" These, however, did
not become realities.
Modern Leagues: The treaties of West
phalia of 1648, which ended the Thirty
Years War and established the principle
Of freedom of religion, provide that "all
and each of the contracting parties .
shall be held to defend and maintain all
and each of the dispositions of this peace,
against whomsoever it may be, without dis
tinction Of religion" It was, therefore, a
league of nations in the modern sense, and
the provision quoted was repeated in treaties
of peace and other treaties until the French
Revolution.
The career of Napoleon Bonaparte. be-
ginning in campaigns against the opponents
Of revolutionary France, resulted in numer-
Gus leagues. At first they were directed
against Republican ideas as represented by
France; later against Napo1eons mon
archial ambitions. At the height Of his
success the imperial Frenchman established
system Of kingdoms and governments de-
pendent upon him and which were in reality
Napoleonic league.
In 1915 Napoleon was eliminated from
Europe by the treaty of Vienna, itself
made by league and resulting in two
others. The Holy Alliance, signed that
same fall, alleged the purpose OF establish
ing the principles Of the Christian religion
as the basis for the conduct of public af-
fairs. Austria, Prussia, Russia, Great Brit
ain, and France were at times in it's men,
bership, but the dishonesty of it's actual
influence caused it to die for lack of sup
port within ten years. The second league
was the Germanfc Confederation, consisting
Of Austria, Prussia and the other German
states. 1t was organized by the Teutonic
states themselves under general principles
laid down in the treaty of Vienna, and last
ed until Prussia's strength enabled her to
defeat Austria and force the latter's retire
ment from it in 1866.
The closer leagues represented by a fed
eral system of government have had rapid
development in the last century. The Swiss