El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-20

] es-s D-L we nave lost at least and
| can most afford TO be generous.
Now we get back to our old friend
/ the balance OF power. In the middle
ages II was only when one country
Q threatened TO dominate EuroDe that
I the principle of the balance was in
volved and other countries coalesced 7
against the ambitious one Continual
wars between more or less equal ma
tons were the rule and aroused no
objections. In the 19the century. ]
to maintain peace. the balance of
power theory was enlarged and bal Z
ancing coalitions formed, Of approx
imately equal strength, which acted ]
together TO prevent war between I
small countries that might drag all I
Europe into strife. The object Of I
Prussia, afterwards Germany. used /
them to prepare her own hour TO I
strike for world mastery.
Back TO Small States.
We are now witnessing a revival /
Of the wars OF the middle ages. The ]
balance of power has broken down; /
the three last autocratic empires. sole I
survivors of the imperial tradition, 4
have dissolved For the first time \
since Augustus assumed the purple ]
there is no longer a European Caesar
car and kaiser were both corrup-
tons of the Roman title. Europe has
again dissolved into small states,
Germany and France and Italy are
the largest left; but Germany is pros
trate and Italy, facing a revolution
airy crisis, is drawing away from
France.
There is no balance" between con-
peting groups Of nations; thus one
weak but partial safeguard Of peace
has gone. There is no unity. Much
depends on France, for France how
ever exhausted remains the strongest
military and economic power on the I
continent But AT the last these days !
everything comes back to labor; and
soaring prices and business paralysis
in France have not left that gallant
country, whose sacrificed 100000
lives against Germany. in any position ]
TO assume unaided the task Of polio
ing Europe Moreover, II the wishes
of a section Of French politicians and
should be followed and
France should attempt to dictate 70
the continent while keeping on good
terms with England and America the
old cry would 90 up that one power
was seeking TO rule alone.
The world has never since Charlie
magne perIufrted this. No doubt a I
coalition would be formed against
Of Napolean. which at
present is unlikely.
Who Can stop Them.
But as things stand, with no dicta- !
tor and no balance Of power. who or
what is 10 restore peace and prevent
constant struggles between Poles. I
Russians, Ruthenians. humanians.
Hungarians, Austrians, Bulgars, and
and Southern Slavs2 These
struggles are at present moderated
land and America have rv feed the /
starving and the new countries think
their food supply is assured, all the /
records Of history indicate they viii I
-ly at each other unless prevented
And who is going to stop them2
No doubt in time. by a couple OF
ievasting wars, the balance Of power
can be restored. new empires or sovi-
Il republics arising and absorbing
heir neighbors until an equilibrium
s reached again But such process
p natural selection will take genera
ions and deDopulate Europe
Unless this hopeless prospect is to{
De realized one OF two alternatives
must be brought about A hegemony
# one power over the world might re-
i've the old Roman peace and this
lOwer can hardly be France for sea
l0wer means economic strength. and
france lacks sea power. Japan is
90 small too weak and too far away
o dream Of ruling the whole world
he viii confine herself TO Asia There
emain America and England as can
lidates- I will not pursue these spec
ilations further.
The other alternative IS a realiza-
Ion Of president Wilson's dream Of a
community Of power, United
states OF the world. OF this at pres
mt the selfish interest OF Individual
powers affords no hope, and that part
u Wilson's program was either de-
Gated or indefinitely postponed by
he peace conference.
II this story seems unduly pessim-
site, the writer can only plead an
ionest effort 10 present the situation
IS It seems Conditions in the past.
nd perhaps by substituting economic
or military pressure we can restore
nd maintain peace Copyright 1913,
" the Mcclure Syndicate.