New-York tribune., 1919-03-04
Wars That Now Are

many, in Poland and elsewhere. Except
that the gigantic conflict dwarfed all
other conflicts, it would be said war is
now going on and war correspondents
would be hurrying to the battle areas.
And on the borders of many other coun-
tries and within them men are with diff
ficulty prevented from springing at one
another.
What are called moral forces are func-
tioning, yet they do not suffice to re-
strain. Mankind has had hideous les
son Of the evils Of war, yet it is not
enough to cure war madness. Vast
numbers Of men prefer to have their
own way touching matters in which they
feel concern than to have the blessings
Of peace. Nor now can it be said that
scheming royal rulers or capitalistic
imperialists are cgging on their vic
moro readily than their opponents-the
proletariat is more bellicose than the
bourgeoisie.
These conditions are full Of instruc-
ton. They teach that moral forces
have not the strength necessary to keep
the peace and that democratic forms of
government do not necessarily mean
pacifism. The deduction cannot be es-
capped that no league of peace which en-
bodies merely vague aspirations of
statesmen and is backed by no definite or
usable power will suffice to maintain
peace. What does Bolshevik or Spar
tacan care for paper agreements?
What does heated Polish or Jugo-Slav
national?
While you follow the covenant discus
sion, especially when you read the speech
the President is to deliver tonight,
think not of what occurred last year,
but Of what is occurring now and may
occur tomorrow. Gentlemen may cry
peace, peace, but there is no peace. An
adjournment Of the peace conference
with no stronger peace medicine mixed
than is provided by the twenty-six ar
ticles of the so-called covenant there
looms in prospect another war period.
Look at the existing situation with
clear eyes. This is idealism and this
also is realism. To the eastward Of the
Alps and the Rhine is a seething mass
of Disturbance vrh ;oh 4lro,+ m bo,,.
INTO disastrous explosions.
But one thing, and one thing alone, is
now preserving such modicum of peace
as now prevails. 1t is not the black
coated gentlemen at Paris. 1t is not the
excellent moral lectures of the Presi-
dent His eloquent words, no matter how
excellently intended, are fire fomenters
rather than fire extinguishers. He has
raised in many hopes that will be diff
fcult to satisfy His friends have come
near to boasting he could throw Italy
into revolution. In Russia, in Germany,
in Southeastern Europe there is con-
dition justifying the gravest apprehen-
sion, partly aroused by feelings that ex-
isting governments are properly objects
Of distrust
The modicum Of peace in the troubled
areas is due not to the black-coats, but
to the men in khaki. In his capacity as
commander in chief rather than as
civilian the President is helping to
maintain peace. 1t is regimented power.
ready to be sent where needed, that keeps
partial order. Take away this concert
on power, functioning through a COM
mon generalissimo and a unified mill
tary council, and conditions would be
bad indeed.
II there Ii to be a league Of effective
peace it must, 30 far as the immediate
future is concerned, work through what
is equivalent to an alliance. DESTROY
the alliance, start the machinery Of the
proposed council, and do no moro than
this, and small is the chance of peace.
With military pressure, or the threat
of it, gone, the shooting would re-begin.
This should not be 80; it is against all
reason, but man Is not always a rational
animal
In view Of these and other facts the
statement seems Justified that the only
sure road TO peace is through the con-
tinuance Of the present alliance. A time
may come when It will be safe To dissolve
1t, but such time has not yet come.
Any discussion Of the abstract merits
of peace league or Of the merits OF
the particular league now offered which
leaves out Of confederation things as