Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-12

scmbIanCc OF freedom from Covctoue aims,
but it is perhaps as we'll not to push this
line Of thought too far. Each nation is
inclined to regard tho designs Of It's neshbor
as unreasonable and to be blind to its own
selfish defects.
II is of record, however. that American
initiative is responsible for this attempt to
StraightCn out an intolerabe tangle, and
that American resources and the magnitude
of American territorial possessions are such
that certain temptations to which other ma
tions arc prey arc not among our afic
tionS
However little virtue there may be in this
good fortune. il IS incontcstable that II is
stimulating to sense Of Justice. How far
this Will prevail in the inevitable mancuvcr-
inge Of the three Powers most vitality con-
ccrncd in the Conference.-The Nation, Brit
ain and Iapan--cannot. Of course. be fore.
told.
But this much Is certain: There will be-
n struggle. n battle Of wits. matching Of
material assets. All this will be- not on tho
battlefield but in the council chamber
Cynirs who profess alarm at every intimation
Of contest cannot logically dOut this sur
passing gain.
Several of the other Powers Of this by no
means universal array arc in a sense spec
tators. Italy looks 10 economic rchabilita-
tion. France is chiefly interested in frontier
protection, and. while friendly in the ab-
stract to a reduction Of arms policy, seeks
10 justify her maintenance Of large stand
ing army as stabilizer in Europe.
China at once old and new, seasoned in
ancient wisdom and yet as q modern nation
weak. immature and uniformed. longs for
rcw freedom in self Development. The
Ncthcrlands. Portugal and Belgium have
important financial concerns. and the first
two nations rank as long Inir"urhod poeScsS-
orS Of Agiatir soil.
As has been repeatedly urged TO" much
must not be expected from tho Conference.
The advice is sound SO far as II tends to
offset disappointment over the clusieeness
~ the millennium and prepares the public
mind for perhaps unspectacular and almost
certainly merely preliminary reform. But
in SO far as the request irepircs pcssimism
Il is out Of place.
There will be conpromiFcs-cyen bargain
il not too harsh a word there will be
wrong roads taken. But such errors do
not pr'"ndo tAYWnspritine possibility "t
substantial intro%iory progrcss.
The faith of thr world. maryelo9sly pre-
s"rvel notwthstandiug tho Bonapartc*.
At'ilas and Kaisors. j. III" bulwar& Of the
Conference. liter fairrc would mirror
public bachsliding quito a. much a. tn" in
competence or iniQuity OF dip,omatsts,
There is in truth much G-opng and yct
a definite. an un"7amplOd and passionate
yoarninG for enduring peace. We have in
decd trave",, far from tho days whc0 tho
failure Of The Hague disarmament plans
va, vaguely lamont"d. bv, not deeply felt
in tho individual home
The mere assembling Of the international
delegates under circumstances 80 styiking'y
now-th" bitter aftermath Of the first uni
vcrsal var contributes a Holcmnity t. the
event which no irony can tarnish. Granted
h"man limitatons and earthly impcrfcrtions.
;hc Conference remains couserratcd Ia tho
hoPc Of civilization barely delivered from
ruin.
1t marks step forward IN tho eternal
strUggl" oG man to 1--we according 70 his own
perfectly well known standards Of right aud
self:rcspoc', which he has oft shamcd. but
which. In spite Of all. mill shine as heacons
in tho darkness.