Arizona republican., 1922-01-01
DIOGENES
BY DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright 1921. by Frank Crane)

In one of Mr.. H. G. Wells first letters in regard tc
the Disarmament Conference he used these words:
Wars preparations for war, and the threat of war
are only the more striking aspect of human dsunion at
the present time. The smaShingup of the worlds cur
rency system is much more immediate disaster That
is rushing upon us. This talk between Japan and
America may end abruptly as the snaring of two dogs
overtaken by flood. There may not be another great
after ALL because both in Japan and America social
disruption may come first.
Upon financial and economic questions the Pow
ers OF the earth must get together very quickly now
perish the signs get more imperative every day. and if
they get together upon these issues then they
will have little reason or excuse for not taking up the
merely international issues at the same time"
After all, Governments can no more save the world
than man can lift himself up by his boot straps which
task is all the difficult when the boot straps are
rotten.
The world cannot be cured by statesmen and poll
tlcians any more than man be cured by doctor
People get well of themselves because of their recupe
ave power or the excess of vital force over morbdes
And nations get we'll the same way.
Mr. Vanderp's plan of a sort of bank which would
do for the world what the Federal Reserve system has
done for the United States is fundamental
move than the proposition for disarmament For if the
world can get thoroughly united in its business war will
automatically cease.
Mr.. Vanderlp proposes simply to give the nations
dollar that is worth dollar franc that is worth
franc, and mark that is worth mark and so on That
is, to supply them with another kind of money which
VIII operate 10 tone up ana brng back the national cur
rencies which have been shot to pieces.
We have got to quit looking to governments to help
us
Nations can make war, but nations cannot cure war
Nations can punish and kill people wholesale and
retail But they cannot add ot title to fes forces
in our national resources.
There never has been any progress in the world un-
der the leadership OF governments All the progress has
been made by the people themselves through their ma
tive spirit and their voluntary organizations.
All National Governments can do is to step in once
in while and wreck the train
What the business and intellectual world ought to
ask of Governments is simply to get out of the road and
quit medding If they will let the people alone take
away their artificial barriers of trade and thought and
travel and allow natural forces to operate the world
would cure itself.
If had not been for pernicious and crazy national
isms there would have been And if the nations
will now let up little and give the people chance
they will get over the wars dire consequences.
Mr.. Godkin of the New York Post used to have a
very subtle way of getting rid of nuisance or BORE
He would look the man smilingy in the eye and say
Will you please go away?"
When Diogenes was asked by Alexander the Great
what he could do for him. the philosopher in his tub re-
piled: "Get out of my light"
All the world asks Of the various nations is some
such thing.