Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-02-25
Ole SPIRIT
OfAMERICA
d a / l. Y
EDITORIAL
D ICES T

EDIlOKZAL
| D IG ES T
Prepared Exclusively for The Tribune
Todays Subject: ~
Britain Breaks Revolt with the Ballot
Notwithstanding the great physical
distance between South Africa and the
United States, the American press
finds much Of interest and importance
! in the elections recently held there,
which resulted in the defeat Of q
secessionist movement. A touch OF
romance entering into the situation
appeals to many writer's, who point
out that the leader Of the victorious
fight for loyalty to the British Empire
was as splendid an opponent of that
empire during the Boer War, less than
twenty years ago. But Of greater
Importance than the personal victory
Of General Jan SHUTS, as the press
views it, is the decisive defeat Of
threatened d!eintegration within the
empire, which is interpreted here as
a complete vindication of British
colonial policies.
Because of the very welcome and
satisfactory outcome of the elections
the Cleveland Plain Dealer lind.
Dem.) feels that Great Britain
breathes more freely in the knowledge
that South African problem is not
now to be added to her already long
list Of unsolved or unsolvable problems
OF empire" That the danger was
great is generally conceded. The
Wellington IN. g. Star (Dem.) be-
lieves that the situation at the time
Of the election was ''fraught with pro-
found peril to the Empire" since, to
quote the Ell Paso Times (Dem.) vic
tory Of the opposition might have
meant the beginning of its disintegra-
tion.' However through the personal
triumph of General SHUTS, who, the
Butte MONTY Post (Rep.) recalls
lis the man who is credited chiefly
with the authorship Of the League COW
enant," the danger is now removed,
and for the present at least" as
the st. Paul Pioneer Press (Ind) says,
the spectre of secession in South
Africa will not haunt the chancellery
at London"
Aside from the issues involved. the
Chicago Journal (Dem.) believes that
there will be wide rejoicing sat the
victory Of Smuts," who after an "amaz-
Ing career" now shares with Lloyd
George 1.-The distinction which belongs
to the two allied leaders who have
not been swept aside by postwar dis
content" To this the Rocky Mountain
News Denver, Ind) adds that she is
one of the big mon" of Britain, and ut
is on such men that it must depend"
The Chicago Post (Ind.) agrees that
among leaders Of liberalism there are
few ADLER men than Jan Smuts," and, it
continues, his victory will be a bitter
to those who make
their daily prayer for the disruption of
the British commonwealth"
Influences hostile to the empire
have been trying to spread dissension
throughout the South African Union,
the Los Angeles Times lind. Rep.)
points out, and in their defeat q greater
victory is won than in any or all the
battles Of the Boer war" The election
results furnish sharp answer, in the
opinion of the Kansas City Star (Ind.)
to those who have been loud ia pro-
claiming that King Georges colonies
are "A string Of trading posts held in
unwilling bondage by Lombard street,
and that q free expression Of the will
Of the people would dissolve the whole
system" As the Providence journal
Ind.) intcrprets the election. it was
lust such "a free expression which.
however, resulted in Strengthening the
empire instead of dissolving it. '"There
aas long been q strong British opin-
on" the Journal explains, that the
dominions may set them
selves up as nations should it ever be
ne sober Judgment Of their people
hat that is for their best interests"
md the elections just closed ''have
served as satisfying referendum" on
,iewed by the Adrian (AIich.) TELEGRAM
Ind.) "as striking proof of the gem
lineness Of self government in British
lominions and the slight authority that
England exercises over them" showing
hat 1.-THE bond that holds the empire
ogether is made up of moral force
sentiment and mutual advantage" In
he opinion Of the Wall Street Journal |
Ind.) there are good and compelling |
why the junior partners in the |
worlds greatest going concern do not !!
'ull out to set up in business for them
elves" since ''in all relations with |
'reat foreign powers they are in IAN
ncomparably stronger position now
han they would be If they were indie
,eudent." ~
1t is significant, however, as NUN.
'er Of writer's admit, that a movement
or secession could have grown "a
tSong as to create danger. This IL
Explained in part by the Manchester
Union (Ind. Rep.) thus:
What 10 taking place is the grow
ng up Of Britain's children and their
assinS from union through control to
MON of mature wills on a basis ~
cooperation. South Africa, ike her
listers, will insist upon the larger
berry Of maturity shortly, and viii =.
Give it. Out Of it all, we think. win
ONE a British Empire greater and
icher in the higher values Of aller;ance
nd interest rooted in the living
arobbing devotion Of significant Iifc
Or that which is it's own
Tie Imperialism for which Smut
ought IL not, the Newark News lid. i II
us, British imperialism a. i
bowed itself in the Boer war. bnt
j instead "a new and more enlightened
nperialism. And the CINCINNATI En-.
lirer (Dem.) believes that "Africa's
yalty to the Empire is a strikins
ldorsement OF the remarkable ch.r.
tar of Bsitish imperialism" which