The Washington herald., 1921-04-20

NNE OF the most Sgnfhcant tacts IN world
conditions is that those countries arc in the
best economic position and have recovered
most rapidly from effects, that have the strong
est and most stable governments. Where there is
popular confidence and loyalty to the government
exactly there has recovery come most surely and
uniformly.
Loyalty is not jug handle. 1t has two sides
Ii is reciprocal To win it, those in authority must
deserve it. The strong government no longer
be despotic; il must be one of understanding with
large measure of equity. The many will no
longer toll for the few and the economic law of
averages and compensations cannot be ignored.
Leaders must both speak and do what appeals
to and wins a united, cohesive, dominant majority
opinion and will II selhshness controls it must be
national and so recognized. As fact nationalism
never strong as today when international
dependence was never strong. Every present in
ternational movement is but reflex Of nationalism
Strangely, almost paradoxicaly, it is under the
tonally strongly held, but nationally responsive
government, that most progress is found.
France, the worst hit of ALL is an almost amaz-
ing example of recovery. Belgium, Great Britain
with all its internal troubles, Finland. CzechoSlo-
vakia, are other examples. Italy lags behind be-
cause of governmental weakness Her leadership is
that of nationally divided house which lacks
unifying program. But even the Balkan states are
showing progress; Poland is held by national pol
icy selfish, but controlling. Jugo-Slavia is begin
ming to see light beyond the woods of separatism,
because of leader who holds the national lure
4. 1t will not be until this nationalism is safe in
the saddle; until the home conditions have ease in
their snxietes until sheer fear has lost its absorb
ing effects; until there is far greater assurance of
safety, that nterdependence will gain its right place
in economic conditions and relations. One of the
most hopeful signs of this is in the drawing to-
gether of the Balkan states to lower the present
trade and transportation barriers.
But in the meanwhile, it is quite inevitable that
everywhere that element of leadership which has
kept the broader vision hoped for as the controlling
result Of the war, looks the United States This
country has no just reason for fear from any quar-
ter. Its governmental stability is hardly shaken
1t is the country whose people are free to look
far, to judge wisely and JUSTLY to properly estimate
international dependence, and to realize that unless
the war IS to be a failure, unless the millions of
dead shall have died in vain, there must be closer
drawing together in mutual understanding
Here and there alone is a people free to have
the world view and to comprehend exact truth that
There is nothing either good or bad but thinking
makes it So" The power of the spirit; the power
of the mind, should be revealed to this people as
they look out the nations still set against each
other, whose good depends absolutely upon togeth-
erness and whose thinking, alone, holds them apart
1t points the way to that association of nations
President Harding has pledged, stripped of mitar-
ism and any "super-government" but that of right
thinking. Is it too to be hoped for? We
confidently believe not.