Arizona republican., 1922-04-10

WASHINGTON. d. c.. April p
Dating almost from the time Of the
signing OF the armistice. practically
the whole civilized world has had
its attention turned to the question
of combination of the powers of the
world for the prevention OF future
international clashes. woodrow Will
son shocked a great many people by
leaving the country of which he was
then chief executive and going to
France to try to put through the
league of nations. He succeeded in
this abroad. but met an insurmount-
able obstacle at home in the United
States senate.
But a few days ago the last of
the treaties negotiated at the recent
conference here for the limitation OF
national arTnaments was ratified by
the senate. These treaties, 1t is Sin
cerely hoped. viii give the world a
breathing spell at last. If not prove q
permanent panacea for troubles be-
tween the nations of the earth
It is not to be expected that such
a great undertaking as grouping the
worlds nations in bonds of common
advantage and accord can be accom-
plished perfectly in a short time.
Our own country we look upon now
as indissolubly bound together. Yet
in its early days it went through such
difficulties and internal trials that
the statesmen OF Europe were con-
tinuaIly expecting the complete
breakdown of ''the American expert
ment" AS lately as 90 years ago,
two sections OF our country were en-
gagged in a bitter strife. one part
seeking to separate itself from the
other because of conflicting opinions
touching the views OF the limits to
which the rights Of states extended.
X The efforts to bind the nations OF
the world together to some extent
are not unrelated to the early strug-
gls to make one nation of the new
states on this continent The first
plan under which they were united
proved a failure. and led TO the for
nation and adoption OF the co1stitu-
ton. Regardless Of what individuals
may thing OF some of the late amend
ment sto that instrument-notably
the eighteenth--it is today the oldest
constitution OF the oldest continuous
government in the world, according
to Arthur Deerin Call. secretary OF
the American Peace society, and edi-
tor OF the Advocate of Peace.
Would Extend Law and Order
This organization, which has been
In existence since 1915, purposes to
prevent the injustices OF war by ex-
tending the methods of law and order
among the nations.
The society has just completed a
booklet giving a valuable history OF
the formation of our republic. with
the suggestion that the lessons set
forth in those events are Of great
value in considering the prevention
Of war throughout the world.
The first great document in the
move of the colonies to free them
selves from the British crown was, as
every school child knows, the Decla-
ration OF Independence, issued July 4,
1776. 1t was not until March 4. 1tt9,
that the constitution went into ef-
feet. During the years between, the
infant republic was struggling TO
bind the several states into one
whole which would stand the test OF
time and trouble.
A committee was appointed by
congress to draw UP the Articles Of
Confederation at the same time the
committee was named to draft the
Declaration of ndependence-Jun
II. 1916. The articles were adopted
on Nov 10 of the same year. but
were not ratified by all the IS states
until March !. 1881.
Because the legislatures of the new
states ratifid the Articles of Con-
federation, but the people did not
do so by direct vote. 1t was felt In
many quarters that the instrument
had no binding force. Some states
failed to comply with all Of the pro-