The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-07-24
VELOCITY AND MOMENTUM
By Professor Levsnt Dodge


hopes that his leading thought will
become sufficiently clear further on.
II pertains TO that great theme now
engaging the attention Of the world
as no single subject has done for
generations. Of course, we mean
the proposed League OF Nations.
The present object is not TO argue
for or against this measure. II,
rather. is desired TO caution read
ers against a very common mistake.
I'm some movements Of material
things, rapidity is the prime re-
quisile: as when some physical
agency is made the bearer of some
news. in a critical emergency. In
other cases. power is what achieves
results: as when the glacier plows
its way through vast regions, cut
ting deep burrows in the strata of
rock. marking out the road for
mighty rivers, and carrying count
less tons of rocks from their for
mer home. to be scattered over dis
tant plains. In this case the move
ment is so slow that the eye of the
on-looker can scarcely detect it.
Great bodies move slowly The
proverb admits of slight amend
ment. so as TO read, Powerful
bodies move slowly IL is a law
of Physics that momentum is
equal to the product of the mass
weight by the velocity. Thus il
one body having two units of weight
moves with five units of velocity its
momentum is ten. If another body,
with fifty units of weight, have only
two units of velocity, its momentum,
or effective force, is one husdredl
Massive Notifications are not broken
down by any number of little bull
lets being hailed upon them, though
they come never so rapidly, but by
ponderOus masses Of steel being
hurled aglnSt them.
Physical laws illustrate well the
laws which govern and produce in
tellectual and moral phenomena.
Momentous events in the worlds
history come from momentum rather
than velocity. Enthusiastic re-
formers are apt to be disappointed
in the slow progress of their pet
reforms. Many a time did the alb
of former years cry out
"How long, Oh! God. how longl
was one of them.
When Gen. John C. Fremont COM
handing the Department of Mis-
souri,, proclaimed the emancipation
of slaves therein, President Lincoln
at once over-ruled il. We were
indignant at the President. But
Lincoln was a wiser man than FIRE.
mont. The times were not yet ripe.
Al the close of the war, we soldiers
who were in the South saw SPELL
ing book in the hands of many OF
the former slaves. Visions of the
black race being speedily educated
in our minds. But we
still look forward rather than back
ward. TO witness this wonderful
For many decades
the woes caused by intemperance
have been pictured in earnest and
terms. Why was not
the great issue Of the prohibition
of the liquor traffic brought to us
a half century ago? 1t requires the
momentum of the great mass of
public sentiment moving in the
same direction. This movement
was slow. We need to remember
that at no moment in the history OF
the giant oak could a casual OBJ
server see any growth.
Let us make an application of
this thought to the longed for bless
ing Of worldwide peace. We have
had disappointing delays, at every
turn. The recent war 'trailed along
its bloody path for more than four
years. After the armistice seven
and a half dreary months elapsed
before the signing Of the completed
treaty. How long this and the APP
pended League of Nations must
wait for the ratification of the vari-
Gus home governments is a matter
of conjecture. We do not well TO
be impatient of free and full dis
cussiOn of the entire document. II
is as much the right and duty Of
our Senators to consider thoroughly
the details as il was Of our Peace
Commissioners TO do so. Do not be
surprised if the close Of the year.
1919, leaves the matter still under
discussion. And when final action
is taken it is best not to be too
sanguine as TO results. At the best
II is only a league of part Of the
nations Of the world. And among
the contracting parties there will
be ratification with various mental
reservations. Between certain