Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-24
WILLIAM PENN URGED
LEAGUE OF NATIONS"
Suggestion of Union Similar to
Wilson's Plan Made While
Hiding in London

ingly similar in principle to the constitution
for permanent peace just presented TO the
Allied conference by President Wilson, was
brought forth by William Penn in 1898,
while he was hiding in London from the
wrath Of William OF Orange.
with wars raging on the continent Of
Europe and the. revolution OF 1859 in Eng
land yet fresh in the minds OF the people.
Penn, still under the imperial ban because
of his alleged completely in the movement to
make James III King Of England, wrote
his great essay. Looking Toward the Pres
ent and Future Peace of Europe"
1t was the first formal scheme for a league
Of nations ever proposed by an English
speaking person. There was one great plan
OF earlier date propounded by Henry w OF
France and called the Great Design"
Perhaps the best known and most signin-
can't modern essay on this great question Is
Rants Eternal Peace Today this far
reaching principle seems ripe for fulhliment
in the charter OF International arbitration,
whose chief sponsor is the President of the
United States.
Presented Idea 20 Queen
Penn was granted his entire liberty by
william toward the end of 1898. lie then
presented to Queen Mary a copy Of his essay,
IN which he showed the desirability of peace
throughout the world, instead of war, and
suggested the sending of deputies by all
nations to a general conference. As recently
as 1850 a copy of his plan was sent to a
peace conference being held In Paris. where
It made a great impression as foreshadowing
certain plans there under consideration.
In referring to his great scheme, Penn
wrote: Il hope this essay will not be
charged upon me for n fault. IL Il appear
TO be neither chimerical nor Injurious and
may provoke ADLER pens to improve and
perform the design with better judgment and
success.
This undertaking is the fruit of my solicit
tous thoughts for the peace of Europe. and
they must want charity as much as the
world needs quiet TO be offended with me
for so pacific a proposal. Let them censure
my management so they prosecute the ad-
vantage OF the design for till the millenary
doctrine be accomplished there is nothing
appears to me so beneficial an expedient
for peace and happiness of this quarter OF
the world"
Peace and It's Advantages
In the first section of his plan Penn speaks
"of peace and its advantages" 'He must not
be a man. but a statue Of brass or stone"
the essay begins, whose bowels do not
melt when he beholds the bloody tragedies
OF this war. in Hungary. Germany. Flanders,
ireland and at sea. the mortality of sickly
and languishing camps and navies and the
mighty prey the devouring winds and waves
have made upon ships and men since IS
t6sS). What can we desire better than
peace than the grace to use It? With what
case and advantage the peace of Europe
might be procured and kept"
Section 2 deals with the means Ct peace,
which is Justice rather than war" II de.
1 VIZ raG TINT tna MI L. ~ 4.
is a better procurer Of peace than war. II
we look over the stories of all times We
shall find the aggressors generally moved
by ambition. the pride OF conquest and
greatness of domination more than right.
II shall endeavor to make 1t evident tina,
these leviathans had never been able to
devour the peace of the world and engross
whole countries as they have done II the
proposal | have to make had been in prac-
tice. I say justice Is the means of peace"
Section Q meets the question of the OBJ
%jections which may be advanced against the
design" He answers them one by one. The
first Is that the strongest and richest SOW.
ereignty will never agree to 1t and. If II
should, there would be danger of corruption
more than of force" His answer to this oh,
lection is that he is not stronger than al
the rest"
Second Objection
The second objection is that 1t will en-,
uhhSSi MI tiiciiiiiatS Wy eutH d u
soldiery." His answer to this is that there
Is no danger of effeminacy because each
sovereignty may introduce as temperate OF
severe a discipline in the education of you'll
az they please by low living and du'
labor.
The third objection is that there will b,
great want of employment for youngel
brothers of families and that the poor mus
either turn soldiers or thieves" He states
that this can be avoided by the government
assuming a solicitous attitude toward TIL
education of it's youth.
The fourth objection is that sovereign
princes and states will hereby become no
sovereign, a thing they will never endure.
How this comedies with the attitude of Ger
tain Senator'S on the floor OF the United
States Senate today, who are maintaining
that this country will sacrifice its independent
rights by joining the proposed league OF ma
tons. Penn answers this argument by say
ing that the DIRECTORS are assuming a mis-
taken attitude. They remain at home a
sovereign as ever they were.' he says. 81
may be the war establishment may be re
duced. which will, indeed, of course. FOLLOW
or be better emplc yed to the advantage of tn
public. II this be called a lessening OF thei
power 1t must be only because the great ts'
can no longer eat up the little ones an
that each sovereignty is equally defended
from injuries and disabled from COMMITTING
them"
Real Benefits Recited
Section 10 recites the real benefits tina
flow from the proposal about peace" Let
not be the least" wrote the great Penn
that II prevents tn, spilling OF SO niue
human and Christian blood, A thing s
offensive to God and terrible ana ainict,nl
TO men must recommend our eXpedient be
yond all objections. The reputation o
Christianity will. in some degree. be recoy
cred In sight of the infdels. 1t saves money
Towns. cities and countries that might D
laid waste by the rage OF war are preserNee
travel and traffic. II will beget and increas
personal friendship between princes an
states, which tends to the roofing up o
wars" ~ ,
In conclusion, Penn expressed me wisn' :
Henry " Of France. that the honor or I'll
-S. r,iaht che owing to England. .