The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-20


united, France goes out In all prob
ability, out of Difference to France,
the admission of Germany will be
delayed But arbitrary action In con-
flict with the provisions Of the league
Is likely TO engender ill-feeling among
the nations that were allied in the
fight against Germany, and which
dwelt together In harmony until the
first session of the league conven-
ton. which paved the way for dis
sension.
There can be no objection to a
league. an association or any other
form OF alliance, that win prevent
or minimize the prospect of war. The
danger of a league is that 1t may
provoke instead of dissipate ill-feel-
ing among nations.
It was not inspired as a result OF
the late war. The league notion Is
one that recurs periodically, follow
ing every great war the world has
known for centuries, 1t is man
kinds method Of manifesting a re-
action against the horrors and TRACE
dies Of wal, II is not a new mani
festatio1. II is a natural manifesto
ton OF human nature.
There are records OF attempts to
form leagues dating back GOO years.
In the fourteenth century the king
OF the Buhemians undertook TO form
an alliance among the Christian ma
tions for their protection. and per-
haps with secret reservations to ex-
tend their powers and influence, 1t
soon fell by the wnyside.
In the fifteenth century there was
another notable effort to form a
league and the powers that entered
into il went so far as to organize an
international army for the purpose
OF guaranteeing the execution ~ the
provisions of It's covenant. But the
people already burdened with taxa
ton resented the additional burden
OF maintaining so elaborate an or
ganization. Their resentment caused
II downfall.
The formation of the Holy Alliance
In 1915 was another one Of the notable
efforts to form league for the
preservation of peace. Every student
of European history knows what the
Holy Alliance did to the peace OF
Europe.
If it were possible for league of
nations to accomplish all the things
that right thinking people would like
to see 1t accomplish In the way OF
abolishing war and guaranteeing
permanent peace. such an institution
would have been erected many CEN
turtles ago.
There is nothing modern in the re-
vulsion against war. There is moth
ing new in the disposition Of man
kind to forget the horrors of war
within a few years. History has been
written in vain 80 far as 1t teaches
that war is barbarous. that desire for
conquest is unholy, and ambition to
excel is vanity ..I
Every century or so the world
passes through crisis and a travail
very much like 1t has been passing
through all the ages.
1t is to be hoped that the league Of
nations. as at present constituted, will
survive, and that 1t will be an in
fluence in establishing tranquility
and good feeling among the nations
Of Europe. But it is discouraging
to observe that at its first session
there is very little manifestation of
the spirit Of brotherly love, and the
peace that passeth understanding, |
that we were assured would spread
over the nations that accepted the
covenant as the dews spread over
the face of the earth.
Europe needs something. Perhaps
1t needs the league. The nations of |
that continent are continually in con-
rict, either automatically or with |
arms, with one another Wars are
Indigenous to its atmosphere.
II the United States were in the
league it would be compelled to share
the jealousies. ambitions and envies
that already are beginning to mani
Tt H.. zlzt
to partake OF the prevailing spirit in |
order to maintain its position among
them.
The American people decided in
solemn referendum few weeks ago |
that they did not favor the United |
States going into the league Of ma
tions. II the league shall prove to
be what its proponents claim for it,
and vlndicates its right to exist and |
the influence of the United States
s needed, and is desirable as a means
II rendering a greater service to hu-
manity. we will still have an OPP
portunity TO go into 1t. The door is
never closed
On the other hand II the league
shall prove to be nm organization
fertile soil in which to SOW
he seeds Of dissension, 1t will be
.ortunate for us that the American
people themselves, as they had a
light to do, decided to stay out
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After reading accnnnts of the nrn-