Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1919-05-09
The Worlds Next Step
NO. 2
League u Nations the FIRST Concerted
World MoFs


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 slay-
cry and serfdoui: the general antip-
athy toward exploitation OF one class
| by another
But all Of these steps In human
progress bad small beginnings. They
would originate. perhaps. In n 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
Nav. however. for the first time In
history. We fina IN tie Organization OF
q league Of natious shat may be con-
sldered as tie civilized world prepared
TO take a step forward in unison. This
being 50. isn't II reasonable 10 expect
TINT the league Of nations Idea wiii
succeed more quickly than other pro-
gres.iye IDEAS which have preceded III
+ Democracy. as tie modern world
understands ~. may be considered TO
date from our own revolution and the
French revolution though the seeds
were planted long before then. The
powerful OF the earth were against IL.
Organized governments fought ~.
Armies and navlcs we're used to pat
II down. Just century ago, when Ma
poleon was oyerthrown and the ancient
dynasties we're being put back on their
a. Il fa.f.f fAHaF
democracy was doomed to failure.
Yet We see today democracy trium-
I plant. There scarcely remains IN Inn
poriant government on earth In which
the people do not have the fiual say
rs 10 Its policies
II democracy could triumph over
such great obstacles. Is there any rea-
son 20 believe that league Of nations.
with NIL the world for II, viii faIli
The league is the natural puigrowth
og democracy. II does not seek. 20
overtarn existing institutions II does
not threaten national governments or
national ideals.
II starts With everything Ia It's IN
yor. The worlds most powerful milf
,ary nation has Just tried 10 conquer
aud despoll It's ncighbprs and failed
because IL found he sentiment ~ man
Kind against n. England. Trance,
! ITALY aud the United States have Just
finished expcndlng life anal sFea=nEe
In hitherto. uahsard.of quantities In
, a war which they did not seek and did
not want.
one nation has learned that u can.
not combat an outraged world, and the
others have learned that they cannot
keen out OF. a modern war Just because
they want 10. They All know nov that
war spreads like wildGre after II
starts. involving the innocent and the
utility alike In It's misery. They all
seallse hat lAs qnIE way e gtefgpt
war IN the future Is 10 net IN concert
That IL why they are iiow forInlng
the league OF nations. .
For this reason 4 does not appear
lhat The suthority ~ tire league q M.
lions. once II Is established. Is likely 70
be seriously challenged IN the near
future. The world Is TOO buey binding
up It's wounds right now fef any na-
lion 10 dare to Tlsi everything IA
anoiher general Nar lilo snsk 81
reconstruction Is toQ great
Therefore i weuid seem ti.at the
league starts With every prospect y
being given an opportunity 10 have .
fair fiai Is constitution as ne@
drawn Is ef course Ear from perfect.
II is tie result 81 compromise aud
OF dnerln. opinions. But all nations
, ere agreed upon The idea Of is de-
STABILITY aud is main purpose TO pre-
went war.
The constitution of the League +
not rigid. Provision Is made for
changes as they may be found TO be
necessary. As tiule goes on undoubt-
eddy there VIII be changes. There
have been changes In our own constl-
tuition aud there Will be more.
1t 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 20 come injustice IN the
world. but Il i certain that there win
be less and less Of IL as time goes on,
aud II IS reasonable 10 suppose that
a world league founded upon the idea
OF justice VIII be able 10 make fur
Their progress than individual nations
with hostile interests and unreasoning
prejudices.
There IS much room Cor division OF
opinion as 10 details Of the league.
But for that matter there Is great
division OF opinion as TO the conduct
of internal affairs Of this or any
other country. Every four years we
are thrown into 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 Inn
mediate policies.
Neither should we Wish TO prevent
the formation OF league Of nations
| ef...rfv hacuuua TIA constitution con-