The sun., 1919-10-05
WILSON SEEN IN
ENGLAND AS A
FALLEN ANGEL
Victim of Idealism and
Wrecked on Shoals of
Diplomacy.
LEAGUE APPEARS DOOMED
European Dem0cracies See
Foundation of New One on
Ashes of Covenant.
BY SHAW DESMOND.

ny ShA"
When Woodrow Wilson rode out of
the west on the wings of the morning
to tilt at the windmills Of Europe's
diplomacy he was hailed by the de-
mocracies of Europe as the savior Of
democracy 1t Is true he carried with
him on one Of the aforesaid wings a
sancho Panza of the name Of House.
whose position in salvation was not
quite so clear. The average worker,
like the average man. has been puz-
cling ever since as to the Colonel's
position. Whether America elected
him, or whether he elected himself
But let that pass. To the Briton, the
American Constitution is a thing fear
full and wonderful.
When the President visited Rome he
had Italy literally on its knees. Rumor
has II that he took the place of his
Holiness's toe. The olive skinned de-
mocracies hailed him as but a little
lower than the angels in which they
had ceased to believe. The Germans
hailed him as the deus ex machina of
the fourteen points. The British de-
nocracies viewed this Horseman of
the Apocalypse as revelation itself.
In fact, Woodrow Wilson assumed
godship, and very well he did It,
Why was this? What did the people
Of Mr.. Wilson's constituency, which
had ceased to be that of the United
States and had become that of demo-
cratic Europe, expect him to do?
what Europe Expected.
They expected him to make war i'm
possible. 1t looks funny to-day In the
cold print. but that is what they ex-
pected. They expected him. as head
Of that hundred millions which, In the
breath Of a man. had become the de-
terminative factor In the future of
Europe, to be arbiter of the destiny of
Europe's democracy. They expected
his fourteen points to be the magma
charta of the new democracy-his
League of Nations to be- :, Well,
what did they expect 1t to be?
1t was to be league Of all the
nations of the world. 1t was not to
limit, but to abolish ornaments, saw
ing those of an international police.
1t was to quarter the world by nation
ality, leaving each nationality to de-
eide its destiny by a vote OF the whole
nation. 1t was to wipe out. not only
secret diplomacy, but the diplomat
Really, 1t was to usher in the millen-
mum.
With the question as to whether
these expectations were good or bad
in themselves, 1 have nothing to do.
give the facts.
It was in vain that clear headed
men and women indicated the OBJ
stacles in the way OF such a league.
Democracy pointed to Wilson. Had
he not said "Ecce HONOR In vain
did democratic leaders show that such
league could only evolve from a
conscious and educated democracy it.
self. not spring full fiedged, like Min
erva, from the head of Jupiter. De-
mocracy pointed inexorably at the
wings OF the morning. Somebody
mentioned ireland. Democracy cited
the fourteen points which had be-
come its creed, and pointed to the
author, its savior.
Then came the cloud no bigger than
a mans hand. Ireland. OF course It
would be Ireland ireland was left
out. Ireland began to spread itself
over the political armament. The
cloud spread until II overcast, the
heavens Of Irish America And Wood
row Wilson felt the first chill ewlnd
blow upon the glow OF his satisfaction.
From that day to the present, the
heavens of Europe's democracies have
gradually set, leaden. over the head Of
the inspirer Of the league. The Ger
mans reserve their choicest Teutonic
for the author OF the fourteen points.
II Mr.. Wilson visited sunny italy to-
day the coolness OF his reception
would surprise him. II he appealed to
the democracies of Great Britain he
would learn to the full the meaning of
the deaf ear that is turned to the
voice Of the charmer." Mr.. Wilson's
constituency has turned against the
Eodlike being who only yesteryear
came riding to II on the wings OF the
morning. To-day. he Is still son OF
the morning-but he is Lucifer. He Is
democracy's fallen angel. Democracy
Doesn't like him. nay, more, 1t doesn't
oelieUe in him any more. 1t doesn't
believe in his league. Why?
President of World Federation.
The view OF British democracy
which may be taken generally as the
view OF European democracy has
been forced by certain definite things.
In the first place. 1t doubts II
the league really has existence, and
therefore has been tickled to death at
Henry Fords generous offer to Mr..
Wilson TO make him chairman Of the
executive OF the League of Nations
and ipso facto president OF the
World Federation" Then Mr.. Ian
sings admissions In his catcheism be-
'ore the Senate that the American
representatives. were to all intents
and purposes deaf mutes at the Paris
conference. and. upon his being asked
whether the fourteen points were con-
hldered, his amazing II don't think
they were discussed" has given Brit
sh democracy an unpleasant shock
IN Its reliance upon American ideal
iAn and clear thinking.