The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-31
THE LEAGUE

The league of nations is still in the Hegelan process Of
N GStEmingi IT IS not yet. but 1t will be. 1t is indispensable.
Neitner individuals nor nations can live without fighting. rn1ese
restrained by an everything power. As a historian, Mr. Wilson
knew this and hence he labored for a league of nations.
He could not and would not ask for an empire. The idea IL
too unpopular. Hence he besought a substitute ruling power
ana called 1t a league OF nations. The term Is less offensive
and L is something new. Something that people are willing tn
give a trial, People must be controlled.
Even a religious meeting must have a moderator or a pre-
siding officer, under some name, to preserve order. The fathers
OF this country knew that the thirteen colonies, when thew threw
oil the overseas sovereignty that controlled them, would be
flying at each others threats unless subject to some superior
authority, and they established a national government called a
union and clothed 1t with sovereign power. The idea was not
popular with many people.
Colonies and commonwealth want to be sovereign so that
they can rule themselves, and so that they can impose their rule
on weaker associations of peoples. Ours were placated and won
over by being called sovereign states, and today Our children are
being mistaught in the schools to believe that there are forty
eight sovereign states in this country. There is only one SOW
eregn state, which is the federal union. and any state that fancies
itself sovereign soon learns its mistake when it transgresses a
federal statute or violates the federal constitution.
What are called the states have reserved rights which thew
must guard vigllantly and fight to retain, but they have no
sovereignty. If they had Arkansas and Tennessee could engage
IN war any time they tell out over a boundary line or an island
IN the Mississippi river, These commonwealth must remain at
peace, because they have a sovereign government above them
with power to compel obedience, and which has wisely estab-
hshed a tribunal where their differences may be adjusted. The
Roman empire preserved peace IN the world for centuries. While
It was IN power countries could not war with each other,
because they all belonged and were subject to Rome. Just as
no two OF our states can make war on each other because they
all belong and are subject to the federal union.
II wars are to end the world must have a central, sovereign
iuihS power 70 preserve the peace. The policeman must stand
at the door OF even small assemblies Of people. W. are about
to try an experiment in a substitute for an empire. The empire
kept peace in the world under the Romans, and the question is;
Can the substitute, the league of nations, do the same thing
under Wilson, Clemenceau and Lloyd George2 Some think not,
but the vast majority seem to be more optimistic and saneuine
And many OF those who think not favor the league because it is
either this or chaos, and it should be tried. Ever since lehro
the Midmnite, induced his overworked son-in.law, Moses, to
appoint tribunals to rule over twenties and fifties, hundreds
and larger numbers OF people, civilized people have been pro-
tected IN their rights, and given redress for their wrongs by
courts established by law according to Jethros plan, The world
court at The Hague failed to preserve peace, in spite of the
reason commonly assigned is because it did not have the punch
or the wallop behind it to force its decrees-to infringe on the
sporting writer's expressive vocabulary.
VIII the league of nations fare better? The question is at
least problematical. Will moral suasion or a gentleman's agree
ment among the nations suffce7 A contamination devoutly
to be wished, but experience and the laws of biology suggest
many impediments. There may be more Hun nations in the
world who respect nothing but force, This can be provided
Tor ii the four civilized great nations are honest and sincere,
and will fulfill their obligations. II they fail, the debacle must
come, and out Of it will emerge we know not what monster
shape or Demogorgon to rebuild things.
Realizing that men will fight and that nations, unrestrained
will 60 to war, something must be done, and the league of
nations seems to be the most feasible and workable. With this
the miscreant or recreant or faithless nation can be subjected
to such treatment as will compel better behavior, without
resort to the god Of war. The Hun would care nothing of
being declared an lshmaelite, and treated as a pariah and out
cast, providing he can make material gains, He can be made
to suffer material losses instead, which. when he gets through
paying his present debts, he will wish to escape. The league Of
nations is a substitute, but it is too momentous and sacred a
problem to be made the shuttlecoek of partisan politics, and if
the Republicans make it the paramount issue, the American
people will rebuke them.