The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1920-02-20
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

uiutE tHc t0NeHdHl PROVIDED III tne
Versailles treaty for which President
Wilson was largely responsible, and
it includes pretty much all the victor
nations of the late war except the
United States.
Great Britain, France, Italy and ia
pan are active members, and it means
something more than the old-time al
liances following great wars intend
ed to preserve the balance of power
The league has a tremendous sig
nificance, in that it is genuine eff
fort on the part of the greater num-
Der of the leading powers of the
earth to put an end to war and to
provide pacific means for the settle
ment Of international disputes.
Whether or not the purpose is accom-
plished, it is a great step forward
that such an endeavor is seriously at
tempted.
There is no doubt that Europe is
heartily weary of war and is fully
convinced of its uselessness, waste
and atrocity. 1t was often said be-
fore the late great war began that
the expense Of modern war and the
wholesale slaughter 1t would cause
would make future wars improbable
and though the war came in spite of
this idea, it more than proved all that
had been said. 1t left all of Europe
in bankruptcy and distress and be-
sides an aftermath of disturbances
of various kinds that it will take
long time to settle.
The war would never have come
except for the military oligarchy of
the central empires, eager to test its
power There will not likely be SO
much militarism in the future and
nations will agree to most any form
of settlement before resorting to the
horrors of war. The manner in which
war between great powers must now
be conducted is on scale so vast
that the expense is unbearable. Vic
tory can't possibly repay for what
the victor must spend in money, to
say nothing of the blood that must be
poured out.
Future wars are more probable be-
tween classes than nations There is
a terrible possibility in other coun-
tries IL conditions such as have de-
moralized and impoverished Russia,
but even without League of Ma
tions the prospect of future interna-
tional wars is greatly dimenished.
The League of Nations is not "the
parliament Of men, the federation of
the world that Tennyson prophesied.
1t may not mean a realization of the
peaceful time the old Hebrew prophet
wrote about, when nations shall not
rise ag--.fsl astions and VS. eIssn -
no more,' bGt II is an earnest effort
to inaugurateP that most desirable
condition, and all who feel genuine
interest in the progress of civiliza-
ton and the welfare of humanity
should wish it godspeed and hope for
it's firm and effective establishment.
1t really marks an epoch in the
worlds history that such an under
taking has been seriously established.
1t is long step far in advance of the
Hague tribunal
The United States is only temper
arily out of the League of Nations.
The fight for political advantage ov-
err non-essentials in the Senate at
Washington has delayed this coun-
try's participation in the league, but
it is bound to come. Our worlds in
terest makes isolation impossible.
AT any rate, the league is now a
fact, and it is the most commendable
international institution the world
ever knew. 1t is backward and inhu-
man not to wish it success, and the
best efforts of humanity should be
expended to that end.
Anything so unspeakably barbar-
Gus, so destructive and demoralizing
as war can't be tolerated by advanced
civilization, and it is a great and
commendable progressive endeavor
that would work its end. In all lands
right-thinking and progressive hu-
mainly should hail the actual estab-
lihment of the League Of Nations.
There may be doubts Of the full fru-
ition of its purposes. 1t is a human
institution and therefore fallable
but it has purpose almost divine and
all that L. xnnd " r,on ohould ha Az