Evening star., 1921-11-27
by THOMAS n. MARsHALL.
Former Vice President Of the United
States. rr,. .

UR age has been 70 in
tensely materialistic and
pseudo scientific that the
world has become insult
ferably eEotistio. We prayed
with moro or less faith during the
great war. but at conclusion Of its
horrors too many OF Ne rsassumed
tho attitude Of tho small boy who
prayed At night, but who was per-
fectly able to take care Of him.
self in the daytime. With that
doubling spirit which seems to be
the strongest ally Of evil. we are
somewhat uncertain whether God
after all had anything to do with
the result OF the war. Were we
not sufficient unto ourselves. we
are asking. and II God did have
any part in the war was He not
on the side Of the heaviest battal- ,
tions? 1 wonder how many Ameri-
cans have adopted the habit Of
thanking God each morning that
He brought the war to q close In
the way He did.
You may believe all you choose
in the invincibleness Of armament
and in the overpowering strength
of mere mentality, but the worlds
hope Of permanent peace. pros
perity and plenty will not reach
fulfillment until the people are
willing to follow leaders who OBJ
NJ
ment from the principles stated
in the four Gospels. believe In
tho exactitude Of that statement.
yet I realize that it Is a waste Of
time to ask a hungry man about
the state OF his soul or to preach
the duty Of peace to q man who
has discovered that by war he can
satisfy his physical wants.
~ ~
In hoping much from the con-
ference considering the Limitation
Of armament, we must not be
diverted from a kindered question
which requires solution in order
to assure permanency Of the sue
cessful accomplishment Of the
conferences purposes. The eco
nomic situation in Europe must be
adjusted IL hope of permanent
peace and lessened armament is
to survive.
The Paul Dombeys Of America
who have been touring Europe have
returned. and a number of them
have given to me what they have
been pleased to call bird's-eye views
of the situation. One tells me that
Germany proposes to defeat the
Versailles treaty. particularly its
reparation clauses, with the print
ing press. that 1t is the purpose
of the German government to
keep on printing marks until there
shall be such q supply as to render
it impossible for the allies to coll
lect reparation. Another says that
the German purpose is not alone
to avoid reparations. but to de-
stroy international trade and to
get the business OF all nations for
themselves.
One tells me that the Germans
are working day and night - get
on in the world. Another says
they are abstaining from work for
fear that France will decree a
breach Of the treaty and take
possession Of their industries, in
which event they desire her to get
as little as possible. I am also
informed that the German Is nos
working because Of a belief that
his government will take from
him the products of his labor and.
that he is unwilling to work for
his government in the interest of
France. Still another reports that
the French are not working be-
cause they intend to let Germany
pay the bills.
4 + + y
This confusion, whether existent
now or not, is likely to develop in
Europe II nothing is done about
her currency, and it may develop
even though the outcome Of the
armament conference is satisfac-
tory. 1t may be expressed in the
following passage Of Scripture:
When the unclean spirit is gone
out of q man. he walketh through
dry places seeking rest and findeth
none Then he saith, will return
to my house from whence I came
out; and when he is come. he find
eth it empty, swept and garnished.
Then goeth he. and taketh with
himself seven other spirits more
uicked than himself and they en-