Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-04-20
Necessity for a League Of
Nations

the hottest impulses of human
nature; that of living in peace
and harmony with each other
as nations as we'll as individuals. Mr.,
Thomas More was quoted as a
dreamey, and he was an exceptional
ly good one. / wish that all who
have capacity for vivid imaginations
would have such beautiful dreams:
then the long promised dominion OF
peace on earth would sooner be
realized. Everybody with a future
vision Is a spiritual dreamer: every
one with an ambition or an ideal
dreams Of its fruition or fullfillment.
History tells OF many dreams about
future glory and exaltation, IL good
or bad depends on the truth and
utility or selfishness of the dream
er's ideals. Alexander, the Great,
dreampt Of world domination: he
succeeded in ruling the world for IL
}years. then died Of ambition fever at
the age of 80, leaving his kingdom
to the strongest. He had sacrificed
thousands on the altar Of his am
bition, a bad dream indeed.
Rome dreampt of world domino
ton, and had success for hundreds
of years. but when broken up by
barbaric hordes from the north, its
fall was greater, and its humiliation
keener, because 1t had attained such
height Of glory and power. And how
many millions Of human beings did
this great ideal of strength crush
and enslave. A terrible dream. in
| deed.
The Church of Rome and the
| popes continue to dream Of world
domination over mems consciences.
They prescribe what to believe and
what not to believe; what to do and
what not to do. 1t has enslaved
rulers and peoples in spiritual bond
age for thousand years, and 1t
aims to envelop the world in de-
grading dogmas and practices.
Charles XII dreampt OF Swedish
empire. He overran Poland. tried
to conquer Russia, impoverished his
own country, and was slain in war
when only sc years old.
Napoleon, another dreamer Of
world empire, had great success for
time, but ended his life an exile
in misery and unhappiness.
On the other side, there have been
good and noble dreamers, but not so
notable or glorified in history, Every
humble human being who lived a
useful life, or died martyr. for
elevating ideals, has been good and
useful dreamer. The prophets of
old tell us in the Bible of many fine
dreams about coming era of uni
versal peace and happiness when i'm
plements of war will be transformed
into useful machinery; the babe will
play at the lions den and the Prince
of Peace will influence and regulate
the conduct Of all to righteousness
and good living.
Our own president is fine dream
err. If his ideals Of world govern
ment are carried out, we have In a
few years, advanced further towards
universal peace than before in GEN.
turtles.
It has been said that human ma
ture is the same as it ever was, and
will remain so for eternity. No more
unhappy conclusion was ever made.
1t means that civilization and broth
erhood have not advanced and Will
not advance. Let us see: Not furth-
err back in history than the seven
teenth century, men had to go
armed, and ever ready to defend
themselves against the attacks OF
enemies. When we mingle in COM
pany now-a- days, do we feel that we
need weapons of defense against as
saults of sane men? No. We nave
truly advanced in confidence and
civilization The savage men in MS
tory and nova days enjoy nothing
better than fight to enhance
prestige. But the masses OF intelli-
gent and educated people now have
no innate desire to fight their fell
lows. Education teaches them to
realize a better field for personal
elevation, in cooperation than in
competition. AS consequence OF
general education, the number of
rational and peace-loving men are
vastly greater now than IN any
period of the worlds history, and
what is true of individuals is true OF
nations. The peoples of Europe are
now thoroughly sick Of war; the
olden glory of soldier life has de-
parted forever, and they desire. with
all their hearts, some practical and
legal machinery to prevent wars IN
the future, Are we (the United
States) ready to join with them In
society of nations to enforce peace?
1t rather seems that we are not yet
sufficiently weary of war. Some
partisan representatives of our peo-
pie and embryo statesmen contend
that we have some rights. privileges
or liberties in contradistinction from
other peoples, which it should be
our binding duty to defend, cost
what 1t may: and rather than TO
give I'D any of these petty rights IN
the interest of world peace, we
Go Il a. World
war. and that is what this de.
termined opposition to league of
nations finally means II they sus-
coed In blocking the way for 1t now
I agree with Mr.. Bryan: Let us
by all means have the leagues con-
stitution as plain and equitable as 1t
is possible to make it now, recognize
ing and perfecting the Monroe doc
trine; also give ample room for flu
tire amendments as occasion de-
| mands. But let us not lose sight OF
| the existing imperative necessity and
| demand from the downtrodden
toilers of the world to create a
guaranty against unnecessary blood
shed and spoliation, in which they
can have some measure OF conn.,
| dence."
We have now practical wide
awake statesmen in Europe. such as
LLOYD George, Clemenceau, etc, ana
then we have our own trio of peace
apostles; Bryan, Taft and Wilson.
| They are in this matter especially
worthy of our confidence; let US fol-
low their lead. ...
IL the worlds statesmen at this
iuncture, when the world is more
| than ever ripe for the proposed
changes, will fail to establish
world government. controlling and
regulating international affairs. there
will be chaos and insecurity for an
! other hundred years. with lts a.
| tendant devastating dozen wars, or
so. Whereas, if the peace society Is
| established there will be minor
complaints from parties who will
| feel aggrieved by the mandates OF
the league; also stronger OPPOSE