The diamond drill., 1919-05-10
The Worlds Next Step
NO.
League Of Nations the First Concerted
World Move
by CLARENCE 1. SPEED

ht"t St'pS III the WoTlu progress
have been made before. There came
the awakening Of the nations from
the bigotry and intolerance OF the dark
ages; the rise OF the spirit OF democ-
racy; the revolt against human slav-
cry and serfdom; the general antip-
athy toward exploitation of one class
by another.
But all Of these steps In human
progress had small beginnings. They
would originate. perhaps. In single
community OF one nation, spread from
there over the whole country. cross
borders with much difficulty, and
finally sweep over the greater part OF
the civilized world.
Now. however. for the first time In
history. we find in the organization OF
a league Of nations what may be con-
sidered as the civilized world prepared
10 take step forward In unison. This
being so. isn't Ii reasonable to expect
that the league OF nations idea will
succeed more quickly than other pro-
gressive ideas which have preceded Il?
Democracy, as the modern world
understands II, may be considered 10
date from our own revolution and the
French revolution, though the seeds
were planted long before then. The
powerful of the earth were against 1t.
Organized governments fought II.
Armies and navies were used TO put
II down. Just century. ago, when Nd
poleon was overthrown and the ancient
dynastles were being put back on their
thrones, IL might have seemed that
democracy was doomed TO failure.
Yet we see today democracy trium-
phant. There scarcely remains an inn
portant government on earth in which
the people do not have the final say
as 10 its policies.
If democracy could triumph over
such great obstacles, Is there any req--
son To believe that n league of nations,
with all the world for 1t. will fail?
The league is the natural outgrowth
of democracy. IL does not seek TO
oyerturn existing Institutions. II does
not threaten national governments or
national ideals
II starts with everything In It's IA
vor. The worlds most powerful mill
tary nation has just tried to conquer
ana despoil its neighbors and failed
because IL found the sentiment Of man
kind against 1t. England, France,
Italy and the United States have just
finished expending life and treasure
in hitherto unheard-of quantities in
a war which they did not seek and did
not want.
One nation has learned that IL can
not combat an outraged world, and the
others have learned that they cannot
keep out OF a modern war just because
they want 10. They all know now that
war spreads like wlldfire after II
starts, involving the innocent and the
guilty alike In its misery. They all
realize that the only way TO prevent
war I'm the future Is to act In concert.
That is why they are now forming
the league of nations.
For this reason II does not appear
that the authority of the league Of ma
tions, once IL Is established, Is likely 10
be seriously challenged in the near
future. The world Is too busy binding
up its wounds right now for any ma
ton 70 dare to risk everything In
another general war. The task OF
reconstruction Is too great.
Therefore IL would seem that the
league starts with every prospect OF
being given an opportunity 10 have a
fair trial It's constitution as now
drawn is of course far from perfect.
1t is the result Of compromise and
OF differing opinions. But all nations
are agreed upon the idea Of its de-
STABILITY and its main purpose 10 pre-.
vent war.
The constitution of the league Is
not rigid. Provision is made for
changes as they may be found to he
necessary. As time goes on undoubt-
edly there will be changes. There
have been changes In our own Consti-
tuition and there will be more.
IL is not fair TO assume, either, that
the millennium has arrived just be-
cause league of nations Is coming
into being. There probably Will be
for ages 10 come injustice In the
world, but II Is certain that there viii
be less and less OF II as time goes on,
and il Is reasonable TO suppose that
a world league founded upon the idea
OF justice will be able to make fur
ther progress than individual nations
with hostile interests and unreasoning
prejudlces.
There Is much room for division OF
opinion as to details uf the league.
But for that matter there Is great
division OF opinion as 10 the conduct
of Internal affairs of this or any
other country. Every four years we
are thrown into a ferment by an cleo
tion In which one great party bitterly
opposes the other. But neither Demo.
crat nor Republican would favor over
turning our form of government sim
ply because he cannot dictate its i'm
mediate policies.