The Alaska daily empire., 1919-03-14
REMARKABLE PROPHECY OF "A LEAGUE OF
 NATIONS.
(By GEORGE w. PENNINGTON }

Many of us at times find it some amusement to indulge in sarcastic fling at our Congressional Rec ord If reminded that it is our duty to read the published report of the work done by the represen tatives of the nation down at Washington we do not as rule regard that particular duty with very keen degree of interest; do always approach it with pleasurable anticipation There are issues of the Congressional Record, however, that make us 'sit up and take notice; and that of February 25 1919 is one of them, for it contains subject matter that is not only intensely interesting, but of rare educational value.
 On February 25th, Senator John Sharp Williams asked the unanimous of the Senate to have inserted the Record the very remarkable address made by the Chief Of the American Peace Commits sion the President of the United States, at Boston, upon his arrival there from Europe
 In making the request, Senator Williams also asked permission tee read excerpt from "The Ruins of Empires classic of French literature from the pen of Count Constantin Voney, published in 1791 Volney was member of the Constituent Assembly of France during the Revouton; he had travelled widely in Egypt, Syria, and the United States and very distinguished scholar and author The following is from the chapter of his great work, headed Will the Human Race Improve?"
 And when nations, free and enlightened, shall become like great individuals the whole species will have the same facili-
 ties as particular portions have; the communication of knowledge will extend
 from one to another, and thus reach the whole. By the law of imitation the exam pie of people will be followed by others, who will adopt its spirit and its laws. Even despots, perceiving that they
 no longer maintain their authority
 without justice and benefcence, will soft their sway from necessity and rival. ship, and civilization will become universal
 THERE WILL BE ESTABLISHED AMONG THE SEVERAL NATIONS AN EQUILIBRI- UNI OF FORCE. WHICH. RETAINING THEM ALL WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE RESPECT DUE THEIR RECIPRO- CAL RIGHTS SHALL PUT AN END TO THE BARBAROUS AND INHUMAN PRAC- TICE OF WAR, AND SUBMIT THEIR DIS .PUTES TO CIVIL ARBITRATION The hu- individual family governed by the same spirit, by common laws, and enjoying all the happiness of which their nature is susceptible.
 Doubtless this great work will be long accomplishing, because the same movement must be given to an immense body, the same leaven must assimiate enormous ment shall be effected its presages already to be Already the great ciety, assuming in its course the same char acters partial societies have done, is eyi- dently tending to a like result
 "At first disconnected in all its parts, it saw its members for long time without hesion; and this general solitude of nations formed its first of anarchy and child hood Divided afterwards by chance into irregular sections, called States King doms it has experienced the fatal effects of an extreme inequality of wealth and rank and the aristocracy of great empires has formed its second age; then. these .lordly States, 4dfkputing for pre-eminence, have hibited the period of the shock of factions
 .At present the contending parties, wearied with dtscord. feel the want of salutary laws.