Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-28
The Worlds Next Step
No. 2
League Of Nations the First Concerted
World Move
BY cLARENcE 1. SPEED


1real steps III the worlds progress
nave been made before. There came
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 serfdom; the general antip-
athy toward exploitation of one class
by another.
But all of these steps In human
progress had small beginnings. They
would originate, perhaps. in a 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.
Now. however. for the first time in
history, we find in The organization of
league Of nations what may be con-
sidered MS the civilized world prepared
TO take step forward In unison. This
being so, isn't It reasonable to expect
That the league of nations idea will
succeed more quickly than other pro-
Democracy, as the modern world
| understands 1t, 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 It,
Organized governments fought 1t.
Armies and navicS were used TO put
" down. Just century ago, when Ma
poleon was Overthrown and the ancient
dynastl6s were being put back on their
thrones, it might have seemed tina:
democracy was doomed to failure.
Yet we see today democracy trium-
plant. There scarcely remains an i'm
portant government on earth in which
the people do not have the final say
as to IFS policies.
If democracy could triumph over
such great obstacles, is there any rea-
son TO believe that n league OF nations,
with all the world for II, will fail?
The league Is the natural oWgrowth
OF democracy. Ii does not seek to
ovcrturn existing Institutions, 1t does
not threaten national governments or
national ideals.
1t starts with everything In IT'S IA
vor. The worlds most powerful mill
tary nation has just tried to conquer
and deSpoil its neighbors and failed
because it found the sentiment of man
Kind against it. England, France,
Italy and the United States have Just
finished expanding life and treasure
in hitherto unheard-of quantities in
a war which they did not seek and did
not want
one nation has learned that It can
not combat an outraged world, and the
others have learned that they cannot
keep out Of a modern war just because
they want to. They all know now that
war spreads like wildfre after it
starts, involving the innocent and the I
guilty. alike in its misery They al /
realize that the only way to prevent |
war in the future is to act in concert |
That is why they are now forming /
he league Of nations.
For this reason it does not appear
hat the authority of the league of ma
tons, once it is established is likely TO
be seriously challenged in the near
future. The world is too busy binding
up its wounds right now for any ma
ton to dare to risk everything in
another general war. The task of
reconstruction is too great.
Therefore it would seem that the
eague starts with every prospect of
air trial. Its constitution as now
lrnwn is of course far from perfect.
t is the result of compromise and
# differing opinions. But all nations
re agreed upon the idea of its de-
and its main purpose to pre-.
cnt war.
The constitution of the league is
lot rigid. Provision is made for
hnnges as they may be found to be
eccssary. AS time goes on undoubt-
dly there will be changes. There
ave been changes in our own Consti-
ulion and there will be more.
1t is not fair to assume. either, that
he millennium has arrived just be-
ause a league Of nations is coming
ntO being. There probably will be
or ages to come injustice in the
'orld. but it is certain that there will
e less and less of ii as time goes on,
nd it is reasonable to suppose that
world league founded upon the idea
{ Justice will be able TO make fur ,
ler progress than individual nations
18th hostile interests and unreasoning &
reiudices.
There is much room for division of ,
pinion as to details of the league
ut for that matter there Is great .
vision of opinion as to the conduct -
internal affairs of this or any
her country. Every four years we +
e thrown into ferment by an cleo
on in which one great party bitterly a
poses the other But neither Demo q
at nor Republican would favor ever G
rning our form of government sim =
Y because he cannot dictate its im- j
ediate policies. p
Neither should we wish to prevent
@ formation of league of nations II
mrly because its constitution con- T
ms some few provisions with which (
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