South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-05
Other Editors Than Ours
WAS HUMANITY READY FOR 1T?
Cords International Weekly

If it should fall out does appear i'm
probable now that the covenant of the League of
Nations shall bear little resemblance TO the ID
propositions of which the was born it will
only indicate that the temper of the world is not
yet attuned to the higher achievements of which
humanity is capable
It will indicate neither the unwisdom nor in
suffciency of the propositions themselves
There is question whatever that the plain peo-
pie Of the world strongly favorable to and
confident of the reorganization of the world in the
bonds Of peace The common people heard him
gladly" may be said of Prest Wilson wherever
he has appeared in Europe America.
But of old the rulers and scribes and Pharisees
the reactionaries of the established governmental
orders-have not agreed with the people, and. theirs
being the power. have prevented the IA PROPOSE
tons from being fully accepted in the peace con
As is always the case when the world meets such
a challenging crisis it is not the IA propositions
that have been trial, but the governments them
selves
There is no question that fear ambition incrusted
habit and vast national pOmposity have dictated
many of the more important reactionary policies Of
the peace conference.
In fact the only motive that has ever been con-
sstenty disrusted throughout the deliberations has
been the motive of disnterested sense Of brother
hood for mankind.
Pres't Wilson has been struggling for months
face with the strongest and most determined
representatives Of the old order and il is confident
" believed that when the true and complete story
the peace conference is told II Will throw more
light the causes OF our cosmopolitan errors than
the true and complete story OF the war. For at
the peace conference the ideas of the world in
conflict. while during the war the conflict was
largely between visible forces. The has been
fought Paris. and shall know whether the
real has been not by the results Of that
conference
One Of the ways in which the world comforts
for such failures is to make distinction be-
tween governments and peoples.
"Oh. we'll" say. lit not the people. but
the governments who failed grasp the vision"
And vet it is impossible not TO consider what
manner OF people the peoples 70 permit their
most cherished dream 20 be thus denied them by
their servants
Is it not too easy escape from duty
OF determination and self-condemnation this
loading OF all the blame the governments? Did
governments attempt anything which they did
not believe the people would stand2
Whatever failure may come out OF Paris il IS not
the failure OF the ideal but the failure OF humanity
TO measure up it. For this failure is human in
its extensiveness is racial in inclusiveness
No nation goes free OF the burden thereof. Our
own nation the very people OF whose free liberties
the idea out OF which the League OF Nations was
born has PLAYED a very important part. both by
open attack and de-spread silent indifference. in
doubtful regarding the whole proposition When
the people OF the United States cannot so scotfree
OF the responsibility. what be said OF the rest
world
IL will be advance. al least toward honesty IN
public thought. II stop looking for someone else
TO blame for these failures In the last and keenest
analysis they the failures OF humanity itself
humanity that 20 be fearful OF its high
ideals than OF its lower instincts.