The St. Joseph observer., 1921-11-12

occurred TINS particular lCInlnuGI'
1T must never be forgotten that |
although the Germans and their allies |
were facing defeat and disaster, and |
had lost tho war quite apart from !
these generous principles embodied in !
the armistice, they actually made |
peace upon the explicit terms set forth !
in that document (the armistlce
agroemenD. The preliminary nego-
tiations had been conducted by the
United States. The accepted doctrines
OF permanent peace and international
association had been formulated by
President Wilson. These terms and
conditions had been submitted to
Great Britain. France, Italy, Belgium
and Japan, and had been carefully
considered, so that the document as
ual memorandum az respects its prin
ciples and terms, but an international
compact of tho highest authority and
the most enduring historical charac-
ter. THAT It must outlive the elabo-
rate settlements devised by tho peace
conference at Paris and Versailles is
reasonably certain. Many detailed So
lutions prescribed In 1891 will break
down or undergo notifications; but
the principles Of the armistice will
grow brighter as the years pass by,
and as men learn the wisdom of for
bearance and cooperation and neigh
borly helpfulness."
Now it may be a question whether
the next generation will think Of the
armistlce and of Armistice day In
| these terms or merely In terms of
military triumph. There can hardly
be any question that generations more
! distant will reflect less on the purely
military phase and more on the other.
The armistice settlement was, as the
Review Of Reviews says. more than
the seal of victory, II was the founda-
ton Of peace. And that Is more I'M
portant. For victories are but means
to ends The success Of armies IS
simply so much opportunity given to
| statesmen to do something substantial
in this case an opportunity to do
something substantial with the whole
world as material.
1t is worth noting that in every
leading country on the globe the
principles of settlement laid down in
the armistice are regarded as superior
to the fabric that the Versailles con-
gress constructed. The peace treaty
is criticized in proportion as. in var
ious eyes, it seems to have deviated
from the plan and purpose OF the
armistice agreement. Recognizing
that this was inevitable, we are
nevertheless brought back to the fact
that mankind ir November, 1918. was
more nearly united on a program Of
tho armistice. which looked ahead to
"clean peace" and a permanent one,
than It ever was united on any other
policy before.
The world may come up to that
point again and again before it ac-
complshes the substance Of what the
armlstice agreement brought into
view 1t will do this unless our civili-
zation passes away.
TIE BUNCOING OF BILL BRYAN
! Hpayersi
Can it be possible--or do our eyes
deceive us?
Not Is a fsct--for the revelation
has been made and authenticated
Bill Bryan-he Of the persuasive
tongue, has succumbed to tho talk OF
salesman for the Cooperative So
clety Of America-and that makes
? him one Of us, 1t also makes us call
him "Blll" in view Of the fact that he
: fell too--was ricked for $500. Mr.
Bryan has established new bonds OF
, understanding and sympathy with
T common folk.
!, The Cooperative Society OF Amer.
ifa hHCh app'NAAhe lAlNNh"ho " oNpu'
> rate money from the trustful. 1t dis
I posed OF certificates OF stock. telling
the purchaser It would open grocery
- stores where he could get 8 cents OF
- on the dollar. Groceries were at tn,
] peak In those days. The stockholde
t also was to receive semi-annual divi
I dends and at the expiration OF tn
t deed Of trust in 1910. the original in
a vestment was to be repaid. The so
- cioty opened s9,5OO store when
8 had obtained s22,5OO in a community
r Tho stores were operated at a loss
Il But it paid occasional dividends--ou
o OF the sale Of certificates.
h The same old story with tho sam
old ending-bankruptcy.
i The account OF how the hooks wer
a prepared for the fish. as told by