The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1919-07-12

~ assassination at SerajevO which connected
lTllI Jesuit diplomacy in Serbia with the be-
G0 ginnings of the great war, peace was
formally cOnsummated at Versailles by signing
of the treaty.
Strange to say, the climax and conclusion Of
what the allied nations have so long fought for
was achieved without a demonstration. The
cOOlness, bordering on indifference, with which
the news was received was in strong contrast
with the noisy show of satisfaction made months
ago over signing Of the armistice.
When we pause to think Of it one wonders
why SO great an event seems to make so slight
an impression when its Importance is considered
and when 1t has been threatened from time to
time with failure due to negotiations disturbed
by conflicting opinions and interests.
Does it not indicate that the people are in a
more serious mood than usual-that the sacri-
fees previous to the armistice have provoked
more than the usual amount of sober thinking
since? Maybe the social and political disturb
ances of the past few months have had some
thing to do with it. However that may be, it is
about the least demonstrative acceptance of vic
tory in the history of such events.
1t must be because the problems of peace are
no less pressing than those of war; and the aver
age citizen is probably better aware of what i'm
pends than at the close of other wars Bicker-
ings over the terms have been followed and dis
cussed with absorbed interest by millions, who,
aroused by the conflict are yet awake to its pos
slbe results. They are not yet settled after the
upheaval. They are wondering, what next?
There is no doubling the universal desire for
peace, or the satisfaction felt at every stage of
progress toward that end; but there is also a
quiet unexpressed feeling that it will take more
than the paper pledges signed at Versailles to
insure the reign of law and order. Peace has its
problems, and the people are aware that they
are not yet solved.
The world is not ready for internationalism.
A league of nations will probably be effected;
but it cannot be the world federation dreamed
Of by poets and lOnged for by sages. The Par
Lament of Man Is yet but an idea, and the time
of its realization is indefinitely postponed. What,
then, is to be the hope of the world and the cen
ter of social organization All the fears and all
the hopes stimulated by wars dangers clamor
with demands for natiOnalisnl. NatiOnalism is
the prevailing note in every country.
Each nation is more jealous than ever of its
rights, privileges, and security. Each nation, if
the expressed preferences of plain citizens and
accredited officials are any indication, wishes to
be complete in itself-as self-determining as in.
ternational relations will permit.
This worldwide feeling, If weIl-considered
means that the nations are not ready to make
common cause in world organization. They
want to go 1t alone; and, whatever union may be
effected in league Of nations will amount to lit.
tie more than similar unions heretofore made by
treaty agreement.
This leaves each nation to solve most of its
own problems unaided. 1t is up to each country
to sweep its own doorstep, organize its own de-
Tense, and provide for its own welfare. Nation
alism is the word, pronounced by common con
sent; and the idea will be emphasized as never
before as nation after nation begins to set itseli
in order to resume business at the old stand.
That Is not to say that the belIigerents ant
neutrals will go back to the same old conditions