New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-05
What about
Self-Deternination2

IN conclusion, we may inquire into the
meaning of the latest catchword of interna
tlonallsm-the self determination OF peo-
pies. The United States shows the great
example OF the limits of that claim, While
large local liberty of administration NAV
De effective, yet the question OF disruption
or OF union in international life was there
settled, once for all, over fifty wears AGO.
In the case OF small states which arc al
ready autonomous, their choice of self-de-
termination must be dictated by the needs
OF seif-preservation and united strength in
grasplng world. Regarding states which
are already part Of federation the feder-
a'loh may divide IN different proportions AS
we may hope will be the case in Austria.
but the external union of ali that can Dos
sibly have the same interests is an essential
VI thelr existence. In other cases where
geographically, an external union is essen
tlai' as in the United Kingdom, self-deter-
mlnatlon OF any one part must go with equal
sel1-determinaton OF other parts.
II most of Ireland wishes TO manage rs
own affalrs, this is equally claim for Bel
last to be likewise free to join whom it
chooses. 1t is impossible to repudiate CO.
erclon by England, and yet to agree 70
coercion by the South of Ireland over Bel
last. AS permanent fact, Ireland never
was united until it came under English rule
Ulster was always separate from the rest
of the country, unless for single reign.
occasionally, Ulster conquered Dublin or
vice versa. Geographical unity is no bond
IN ireland any more than between ayaln
and Portugal, or Norway and Sweden, or
Holland and Belgium. II any part wishes
Tor separate form of governn emf, il car
not impose that separation on the rest
"lf we are 10 5e the instruments of edu-
eating other races, what is to educate the
educators? Our tutelage is the terrible
clash II nations, the school Of sdversity
which is to purge us Of the dross Of folly
and lethargy. Every one Of the nations has
needed this war; and the most urgent mat
ter to each is to see how it has morally
gained, and to make sure of preserving the
benefits of such o fearful schooling. Here
in England we may see our gain in giving
force to ideals, and not being afraid of put
ting them into action; in our sense Of unity
IN each class, and also. between classes as
whole. our unity of purpose, and unity Of
endeayor; in our national spirit, the intense
independence. the abolition of pauperism,
tne reuuCtlon OF coQdllnE the lnefhclent, ana
the will that made even our criminals work
gladly when they knew 1t was for the wsr;
in the organization of the population. the
welding of formless mass into an orderly
body with a sense of collective responsible
ity, every one registered by food tickets;
In the freedom of work, getting out Of the
tangle of limitation Of output, giving liberty
to woman's work. and breaking down caste
in work; in the development of the
sources OF labor and the NATURAL materials
of our country; in the improvement of az
r'culture, and the gain of political status
for it; in the limitation of the waste that
prevailed in food and material and in the
time given to Stacking and amusements.
I'm all these directions, we must accept
our tutelage, and give effect to it. Let
every nation give full effect to the gaina
bought at SO vast price of death and mis
cry, that alone can prevent such catas-
trophies in tho future"