Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-26

Cally from tneSe same countries, tnen pfle
compulsive machinery of the league Of
nations will little by little be. Under
propped and based upon broad human
interchange Of problems and ideals that
will make humanity safe for the humane.
Cecil Rhodes, the greatest pioneer in
the international exchange of ideas, had
vision which was far deeper than a
mere educational hobby or an attempt
to impress young foreigners with the
glories of British imperialism. His
dream was cherished and thought out
through many years. 1t was his anti
dote for weariness, encouragement and
disillusion. He said once, whenever
am in a railway train, whenever am
tired or have few moments for think
ing, whenever / don't know just what to
do with myself, l close my eyes and
think about my great idea" His great
idea" was the unifcation of the three
great nations, on whom he saw the peace
of the world depended, in the persons Of
their student youth. He wanted to make
his own alma mater, Oxford, the alembic
in which these streams of vigorous in
quistiveness would mingle and fuse for
better understanding and jointure of
ideals. The three great nations of his
dream were Great Britain, the United
States and Germany.
The years since 1904, when Rhodes's
beneficiaries first reached Oxford, have
shown how keen his vision was. Ger
many had gone too far in her wanton
course of fanatic dominion to be checked
by sending a few score of young Ger
mans to an English university. But
even with the results in mind, the Ger
man portion of Rhodess scheme cannot
be said to have been failure. Young
Americans, Canadians, Australians and
Germans mingled in the enchanting life
of young England at Oxford, matched
minds" together and went off rejoicing
into their own careers. Oxford well
coined them just as she does her birth
right sons Not the least touching illus
tration of her affection for her foster
children has been the fact that at least
one Oxford college, setting tablet in
her closters to commemorate her alumni
who had fallen in the war, included on
the bronze roster the names of her for
mer German pupils who had died fight
ing against England. Oxford is in war
what she and every other true home of
learning has always been in study and
in sport. She plays the game. Stand
ing in her matchless bower of immortal
loveliness, where the heart catches fire
from old traditions of truth and beauty
enshrined in her pinnacles and vistas of
gray stone, she has little time for mere
hatred. The world is too full of a num-
Der of things,
In the rebuilding of civilization the
statesman and the scholar will have to
work hand in hand. The architecture of
nations must be built upon some firmer
foundation than mere fiat boundaries or
Corridors to the sea. In the realm of
the spirit there is no such thing as paro-
chial hatred; only happy rivalry in the
pursuit of Truth. Those who love
America must hope that her vision will
be great enough to include some scheme
OF advancing international understand
ing through the cumulative process of
exchanging the ideals of youth.
Who will be the American Cecil
Rhodes? Here is chance for Henry
Ford to experiment with the marvellous
expanding power of vast fortune, con-
structlvely and Realistically applied!