Evening star., 1921-12-18
BY THOMAS n. MARSHALL,
Former Vice President Of the United
States. EEL.

x1GN lSAThSu luS
M world ran without noise
wv or friction in its accus-
. toned orbit, bringing to
us seed time and harvest. because
1t stayed In the middle Of the road
between the centripetal and CEN
trifugal forces of nature, I reached
the conclusion that in all affairs
Of life safety was to be found in
conservatism both of thought and
conduct. I realize, however. that
those who are constantly striving
to pull mankind to one side of the
road or the other help the onward
progress Of events.
Since the Washington conference
was called my mail has been
crowded with letters on war and
peace. These subjects are today
the burden Of the human soul,
Though I do not subscribe to the
doctrine that the voice Of the peo-
pie is Invariably the voice Of God.
in view Of the fact that public
opinion may at times be only pub
lie prejudice based on insufficient
evidence. I have often been Inn
pressed that what was to come to
pass had come to me in advance
through the expressed views OF
men and women whose pictures
never. appear in the Sunday sup
plements and whose social activi-
ties are never recorded.
II X II u
English-speaking people have a
strange sort Of mind. They must
have made rs their motto the dec
laration Of Paul, "This one thing
1 do" When numerous PROPOSE
tions loom for settlement they
settle nothing. When they con-
centrate on one thought results
usually follow, and just now the
making an end Of war is universal
and paramount. With men and
women everywhere I am maintain
+. ing an attitude of mind that In
some way offensive warfare is go
ing to cease. To that extent
have deserted my Presbyterian
faith and adopted Christian Sci
ence. For II were compelled to
classify and weigh the opinions
that come to me, taking into con-
sideration the learning, environ
ment and character Of those from
whom they come. would be lost
in wilderness of doubt
An American soldier, known to
me as a fine chap. outstanding and
courageous, writes that the cove
nant OF the league of nations is
opposed not only to the Constitu-
tion of the United States. but also
to the revealed word Of God. He
cites certain clauses Of the funda-
mental law of the land which he
declares render our entrance into
the league impossible. or course.
l had heard 1t all before. did not
believe it then and do not believe
it now. With much plausbility, he
urges from the sacred Scriptures
that there could never be another
world power after the dissolution
of the Roman empire until the
Kingdom OF God is established in
and over the whole world. I had
to tell him that / do not SO read
my Bible.
A distinguished clergyman con-
graduates America upon having
escaped entrance into the league
OF nations, and Is not at all GER
tain that the church should do
anything on the subject of dis
armament. He separates church
and state so completely as to
hold that the church should not
even concern itself about what the
state does or fails to do. No one
will contend with greater zeal
than I do for separation of church
and state, but. on the other hand,
/ cannot understand how a man
will pray for peace and yet be
unwilling to cast his ballot for
something that looks like bringing
about an age-old, world-old hope.
More than one of my corre-
spondents express the hope. heeld by
all. that as a result Of the confer
nations Of the world in further
ance Of universal peace. but they
tremble on the brink of what they
call super-goyernment," wonder
ing how without super-govern-
ment the dream of the world is
to become reality, and fearing that
any government without force be-
hind it is futile.
X X -
From far-off India comes a let
ter addressed to me as Brother
of Mankind" I do not subscribe
to many OF the views contained
in it, but I confess being pleased
with its salutation. This letter
urges a spiritual brotherhood of
the human races with its visible
expression In world union of all
the people Of the world, based on
equal rights, equal opportunities
and equal responsibilities" It in
sists that when Ireland Is inde-
pendent, but without the power
Of forming an alliance to the in
jury Of Great Britain, and when