Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-23
SPECIFIC INSTANCES.

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Having generalized about the
difficulties Of putting Humpty
Dumpty together again. let us
consider few specific instances,
matters of adjustment which
might never enter the heads Of
men at home. They see only the
war in the large. But, coming
closer, let us consider the matter
of the pleasant little town Of Can
tigny; a French town, lovely
French town, but last summer
badly infestedwith Germans. The
Germans were in the way of Am
erican progress. So the Ameri-
cans, in blowing the Germans out,
destroyed the town of Cantigny.
Now If this was war for DEM
ocracy, and we We're first to de-
clare it such, it was our war as
much as Frances war. Cantigny
Is on French soil; so possibly the
French may feel that the destruc-
ton Of Cantigny is as much our
business as 1t is the business of
France. We destroyed it protect
ing France, incidentally, but pro-
tecting civilization primarily. So
from our point of view, France
might feel that America, having
destroyed Cantigny, should pay
for the same. It would not have
occurred to the folks at home to
think of paying for a French town
destroyed in getting the Germans
out Of France; but we were only
getting them out Of France as a
geographical incident. We were
getting them out of civilization.
So this point is one of a hum
dred like 1t which have to be set
tied, and there are two good sides
to the question. Another instance:
The American government at
one time and another has advanc-
ed to France much money; hum
dreds of millions; possibly billions.
To the average man there is no
difference. ~ France used that
money to fight the battles of CIV
ilization. Many Europeans believe
that this money which America
advanced to France should be a
gift. and not loan, because
cause and spent her men as well
as our money and thus saved our
men three years of sacrifice. In
the vast international horse trade
for a world peace that shall be
permanent, possibly France may
suggest that Americas good will
be tested by making that loan a
gift, or by at least foregoing the
interest? Who shall say off hand
that we should not do it?
INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS.
These may not be authentic
cases wherein the Americans may
have to trade sharply to get their
league of nations, yet each coun-
try does have its own peculiar in
terests at the peace table. England
chiefly has the freedom Of the
seas. Italy has F'iume and the Dali
attain coast. And each nation has
sent to the conference it's keenest
traders. 1t is significant that in
making up his peace conference
Premier Clemenceau left off M.
Leon Bourgeois, and the most con-
spicuous advocate of the league of
nations in France even though M.
Bourgeois was later made chair
man of French committee to
study the league of nations.
Everyone in France who believes
In the league Of nations, particu-
larly the Socialists, presumed that
NJ. Bourgeois would have a place
in the peace commission. because
of his views. Because Of his views
he may have been dropped; for
France in her present stat ecannot
afford to give up anything. Her
Industries are wrecked; her men
are dead or are crippled to a
frightful degree; her credit is all
most exhausted and she cannot
afford to play the grand and gen.
erous benefactor OF humanity at
the peace table. England's stu
ton is different from the French
situation only in degree, and
Italy's sacred egotism does NOT
ton in the world. that wants
prompt her to appear over-g ra-
.cious. In fact, America Is the only
nation that wants nothing out OF
the war and she will get 1t; and Il
for humanity, America desires q
league of nations. she will have t.
trade hard for that. The American
people should realize that while
at first anyone will declare he II
In favor Of q league of nations or.
ganized as kind of federation
OF the world, the parliament O