The Republican journal., 1919-03-06
A LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

The League of Nations is spoken of as
if it were brand new scheme, but in
fact it was foreshadowed more than 25O
years ago, at Westphalia, in the western
part of Germany. Here was convened
what is known in history as the West
phalan peace congress, and where for al
most eight years the best minds of Eu-
rope endeavored to devise and agree upon
a plan to insure peace. This was during
the last years of the Thirty Years War.
Peace treaties were signed in 1913, but
the prolonged discussions had not the
peace spirit which had prevailed at the
opening of the congress. On the con-
trary it had fomented new dissensions
and laid the foundation for new wars.
The seed of arbitration was sown but it
fell on stony ground. 1t will be profitless
for US to consider the wars and peace
pacts which followed during a period of
100 years after the Westphaian congress.
The seed soNn there did not terminate
until peace congress assembled in Vienna
in 1914. This congress convened at what
was supposed to be the close of the Ma
poleonic wars which had devastated
large part of Europe. The rigorous Rus
sian winter and the valor of Russian SOL
diers had then destroyed the French army,
and Napoleon had abdicated. All Europe
was thrilled by the hope that an enduring
peace could be assured through rules and
covenants to be made by the representa-
tives of the nations delegated to the con-
gress, at Vienna. Hither came the lead
ing diplomats and statesmen of the con-
tinent and of the British Isles, many of
whom earnestly desired to free the world
from frequently recurring wars. These
men went there with high ideals and were
resolved to make those ideals effective.
Alexander T. Gar of Russia, lowered
above them all Russia, by her might
and resources, aided by her SHOWS seemed
to have wrought the downfall of Napo-
leon. Alexander brought with him an
encourage both numerous and distin-
guished. He was liberal in thought and
hopeful in temperament. He seized upon
the opportunity to become the original
advocate of League of Nations. He
stood forth as the Woodrow Wilson of
the Vienna congress. The war oppressed
people of Europe hailed his plans for arb-
trati0n and adjucation of national dis
putes, with high acclaim. But many of
the delegates were selfish, desiring ex-
tension of territory and power, and as
weeks followed weeks of discussion con-
corning boundaries and settlements, the
meetings became stormy, and Just at this
juncture Napoleon escaped from Elba and
was soon again in the field with a for
mldable army, To win peace by battle
IN the threatening present, diverted at
tenton from all attempts to preserve
peace for future generations, Therefore
the Vienna congress cut short it's DELHI
eratlons and adjourned few days before
the battle of Waterloo. Tie Vienna
congress was not an entire failure. 1t
was step toward new freedom free
dom from war, Its members professed.
at least, that they came together for the
purpose of serving not only their own
nation but the nations of Europe Alex
ander stood manfully for the internation-
allzauon of Europe, or as he expressed
the idea, for "a confederation of Europe"
TO pDfOTIp
posed a League of Nations to enforce
peace, we believe his hope was that bv
TINS means the nations could now do
what Alexander hoped to do. Djssen-
SONS wrecked AleXander's original plan
and d ssensions have wrecked MIR. Will |
sons, In both instances the next step
was to make covenant for arbitrator /!
Cancellation and settlement. After Water
100, the monarchs of England, Russia, |
Germany and Austria, who held the /
destlnies of Europe in their hands, in
formulating peace terms, joined in what /
was called the Quadruple Alliance A |
commission was constituted to hold meet |
lngs from time to time for the discussion
OF affairs and the peaceful settlement of |
disputes which might lead to war This |
commission held several meetings during
a period of four years and after that it
was every nation for itself, and God for
US ALL" This is.what an Englishman said
IN 1928 Since then there have been