The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-02-09
ENGLAND SERVES
WITHOUT ROASTING

Christian Register: How plain
is Great Britain's inability to in
gratiate herself in the heart OF the
world! Others must do it for her.
Ii America equaled her service to
the nations, the outermost curves
OF the planet would have grandilo-
quent praises OF our works. As for
Germany, let men say what they
will Of her blundering psychology,
but the fact remains that until the
revelations OF her later propaganda
became common property, she had
surpassed all people in effectual self
glorlilcation. But our English kin
dred have never varied from a
course that represents them as in
different, self-interested and threat
ening when their rights were APP
preached too nearly. Not even
their saving part in the war--a rec
ord Of sacrifice that staggers with
its figures in men, money and mu-
nitionS-gets to MS 50 inWardlv as
their Spokesman's untoWard remarks
about British supremacy on the sea.
In the press today we read their
half-bristling purpose to rule the
deep, come what will, with never
word OF justification except that
the British empire must keep her
domains secure.
The fact is, this q rdicuouslv in
adequate statement OF her purpose
and her leading people know it.
What she would do and what she
did in the war she has done for gen
erationS, She has used her sea
power to protect all nations. But
she will not say so, because OF all
nations she is the most contemptu-
Gus OF. even Just and needful SELF
praise. In consequence, she suffers
inglorously. Her own words never
do her justice. Her deeds the world
slowly comes to believe. We say
that with no delusion about her
impcrfcctions, and OF these. by the
way, England herself is the most
terrific critic.
1T will be one OF the greatest
achievements Of the conference at
Versailles il the other nations will
do for Great Britain what she is dis
inclined to do for herself She
needs to 90 into the hands oi un-
derStandlng friends. and she will. As
to the freedom OF the seas. it is =
matter OF not the least doubt in her
mind that she is jealous of public
guardianship, OF being 4 true friend
OF lawful nations. Her main thought
is not self To subtract from the
ullncs; OF this real ministry is what
gives her concern. The concord
which We are sure viii prevail at
the conference will take due care Of
the term, applied to sea power. The
genuine expression of gratitude and
faith in Great Britain will send her
delegates home with q single glow
ing heart 10 the effect that she will
be able TO serve more hereafter
rather than less, and that in point OF
prestige She will still he mistress OF
the seas because she knows and
practices SeamanSMp better than
any other nation.
But it will be such a supremacy
as the world will understand. ltwill
not be a bullying attempt 10 domi-
nate, but a magnificent purpose to
serve. That changed impression is
coming already. Great Britain has
never believed in the will to power.
Her ways have always been blunt,
it is true, and impersonal in their
dispasSionatc quiet, but on the
whole they have been wise, because,
for her, law and order have been
the national religion.
No people--and we surely include
our own people-have been so near
ly omnipotent as the British, be-
cause OF their undcmonstrativc and
indomitablc heart for law. Out OF
Rome came ordered law, and in the
British empire the law finds the
strongest cxempliiication OF its op-
Grafton, remarkably free from favor,
prejudice and prostitution, and
nearly as unmovable, it has seemed,
as the course Of the Eternal. The
conduct of the great empire in the
days at hand will disappoint no
friends OF man. If she has Offered
the blod OF thousands OF her sons
for herself, much more it seems true