The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-13
OVER THERE

The world is waiting and the world is deeply interested,
because the fate OF the world now and for centuries to come is
hanging in the balance, TO be determined by the great peace
conference. The great problems that must be solved are terrlfy-
ing in their magnitude. The decent and civilized nations are
engaged in doing the thinking and acting for the rest of the
world. Germany is in revolution and disorder, The people, so
long repressed and suifocated, are in ferment. We read of what
the government forces are doing and going to do, But who or
what is the government now i'll Germany? Scholarly and theo-
retical socialism has degcnerated into mad Bolshevism, the pur-
pose of which is to kill and destroy. All are enemies, and the
only use to which an enemy can be put is to make a corpse OF
him. 1t is the reaction which, according to the law of physics,
always comes. England had it in her many revolutions
France had it in her bloody revolution. The people Of any
country can be saddled and brided and ridden under whip and
spur for a season-for centuries-but ultimately they will throw
their riders and stamp them in the mire. Russia is a witchS
caldron. Robbery, pilagc and death arc the aims and objects
Of the maddened masses. Around Riga, we are told with
charming naivette, there is tranquility because all the land
owners are robbed and despoiled or killed, This IS the PM
osophy OF all peoples who rise in rebellion against their perse-
cutors. 1t is a drastic remedy and a summary treatment, but a
maddened people seem to know no other.
Armenia has suffered long under the bloody rule OF the
Turks. and it will require strong and heroic measures to restore
order and respect for law in that unhappy country How to
begin, and after beginning, how to proceed are puzzins queS-
tons,
Many peoples now camoring for recognition and relief are
ethnoogically incapable of self-government, They yield only to
firmness and force, and that force must manifest itself in bru-
tality at times in order to inspire fear, which is the most power
full of emotions.
Yet the Turks and the Arabs or Syrans are human beings,
children of God, like the most advanced peoples, and they are
entitled to consideration and that measure of economic and
political determination that is best for them, and Of which they
are capable Of making the best use. The world wants peace,
and the civilized and decent nations do not want to be longer
harassed and annoyed by insurrectionary and chaos-breeding
forces, no matter in what country they may be found. How can
the surface of the globe be carved up and divided between CON
tending and intransigeant elements with any hope Of bringing
about order and permanent tranquility is a problem confronting
the peace conference. Towering like a Chimborazo among the
statesmen of Europe stands Americas chief representative, anx-
ious and willing to do what is best. But will the people in
whose interest he is laborng understand and appreciate his wis
dom and altruism? 1t is unfortunately doubtful. They want
the best of it. After centuries of suffering and bloodshed they
want revenge and reprisal, At heart they are all BolsheViki. A
league of nations may take the world in hand and do something
with il To do so will REQUIRE a league OF armies and naVleS.
The amount of work to be done is enough to discourage and
bring despair to the stoutest heart. But it must be done; there
is no evading or getting away from it, and if the leading nations
will put aside selfshness and Join together in a united effort
10 rescue the world from chaos and disorder, and establish law
and Justice, it can be done. God grant that all nations shall feel
the spirit which animates America and labor to settle all dtter
ences. Nothing is gong to be permanently settled. No part OF
the work will be entirely completed. Only a beginning can be
made, and this can be carried on to fruiton ii all the assembled
nations will only give their assistance, power and influence &c
the work in hand. In the beginning was the Word, and t'
Word was with God, and the Word was God" wrote John th
Divine. A new beginning is to be made. Instead OF destroying
the world by a flood it must be saved by faith and works, an'
the Logos will again, as in the beginning, be God