The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-12-07
OUT OF THE CHAOS

When the debris Of a demolished
structure is being cleared away the
sight is not pleasing All the senses
are offended by the litter, the noise
and confusion. 1t is difficult to Wis
ualze the future structure which in
time will rise over the scene of wreck
and ruin. Now and then an artist,
or one gifted with vision, can hope
fully survey the removal Of the wreck
age, knowing that it must be cleared
away before work can begin on the
new structure. He can patiently toll
crate the slow and laborious prelim-
mary work which must be done, for
! he can see in imagination the noble
building which win rise in symmetry
afterward
The nations today are standing in
hush of shame and sorrow before
the chaos which warfare has produc-
cd. Few of them have the vision.
They are almost paralyzed, dazed by
the awful wreck and ruin. They are
weary Of war--very weary indeed
and they hope that some time war will
be no more. They are standing amid
the chaos, cropping blindly for the re-
covery Of their lost possessions, not
realizing that the mere recovery with
out recreation would end in the same
old way. They must learn that the
grasp Of power is3a two-edged sword.
If they could for a moment Wis
ualize the noble civilization that would
arise to bless the earth if they would
but unite in clearing away the wreck
age of the old they would lose no time
in beginning the task. 1t is trem-
endous one and will tax the powers of
the keenest minds. The highest in
telligence of the age must be brought
to bear upon the problem. There will
be many details to be worked out
national and international questions
to be settled before the dream Of
world peace can be realized
! With the realization that the war;
god must be deposed from his throne
among the nations the first step will
be taken. The second step-the
limitation of armaments-must be
taken. The second step--the limita-
! don Of ornaments must be taken
soon on there will be no civilization
in the near future to be considered.
The world will revert to barbarism
and chaos. The destructive forces
have been long loosed upon the world,
The constructive work must now be-
gin in earnest Public sentiment must
be awakened to the need of world
peace--to the grave dangers confront
| ing civilization unless the nations
cease their preparations for war. The
world is perishing for lack of peace
the true peace which the Master
promised. IS
Limitation of armaments is but a
preliminary measure in the world
movement for true and lasting peace.
The truth must be pressed home that
IL one nation has the right to arm to
the limit. so have all the others. All
radical changes involve certain diff
culties of REIMBURSEMENT 1t will take
time to divert the stream of warning
elements into peaceful channels--to
turn the activities of the military
hordes to the pursuits of peace.
II has been suggested that complete
disarmament would greatly increase
the food Of unemployment menacing
the nations. The disposal to their ad-
vantage of all the naval and military
forces would without doubt tax our
resources to the utmost-hut that
would be a small price to pay for
world peace. This is one of the prob
lens which our s0lons must solve. The
pursuits Of peace should furnish en-
.ployment and living for all. If they
do not. there is something radically
wrong with our civilization. There is
a vast amount Of constructive work
to be done in our cities aud towns.
Fields are waiting to be titled, desert
to be reclaimed, nature forces TO be
conquered and utilized. Science has
given US many hints of discoveries
that may be made-of things that
may be done when the faculties OF
man are turned Godward and the
working energies of the world are
properly directed. Humanity cannot