Evening star., 1922-06-04

overseas, i listen to the talk of
men. ] seek the views of those
who are dong the worlds work.
AS far as l have yet been able
to discern, only one call concern
ing the numerous problems of the
future is clearly to be heard. That
call is. "It must not be again" 1t
is to be heard everywhere-on
shipboard and on mainland.
whether from men of large affairs
who helped to mold the economic
destiny of mankind, or from a
cabin steward who was on the
Lusitania; from a barber who lost
a finger at San Mihiel, or from an
International banker in his club;
from sad-faced seamstress whose
family was made desolate, or from
her fashionable patroness. Each
strikes the same note: They count
all else as drosS beside this hope.
AS ] hear men talk / become
ever more convinced that the
blackest cloud upon the futures
horizon finds its origin in a narrow
provinciaiism of race. devoid OF all
semblance of a catholic spirit. Yet
provincialism put to wise purposes
may teach lesson of help to un-
born generations.
know how difficult 1t is for
man to rid himself OF his accumu-
lated judgments and how more
difficult it is for a man to drain
the blood out of his veins and
refill them with cosmopolitan
ichor. What happened at the
Tower Of Babel. beyond the con-
fusion of tongues. / do not know.
but. out Of its confusion of tongues
grew suspicion and hatred. The
problem is to find some mutual
principle upon which men of diff
ferent blood may agree. This may
not be easy of accomplishment but
1t is not unbelievable. Men may
not be able right offhand to learn
to love each other. but they can
speedily foster a mutual respect
even though differences of blood
and lineage exist.
I happened just this week to be
reRretting some Of the things
which have recently occurred in
the intercourse between the Ame-i-
can and English peoples. In our
company was Scotchman, who
indicated that he did not like just
what l was saying when ! referred
to some rather foolish talk upon
tho part Of English visitors to
America. He suggested that ! not
judge the British Empire by any
thing an Englishman might say.
He begged me TO remember that
] was not going to England. but
that l was on my way to the Brit
;,l, I'll =. fnl, sv,tt tyr,o ter
that ! should form my views of
Great Britain's feelings toward
America from British and not from
English statements.
II
This had the effect OF recalling
to me some of the troubles of the
British government. l remembered
that there was a time when con-
troversy by word of mouth and at
sword point was just as serious
between the Scotch and English as
nowadays between the English and
the Irish, and / remembered that
tho Scotchman. realizing that he
could not whip the Englishman,
did the next best and wisest thing
man can do-he Joined him. And
ing proved so successful that un-
less my memory as TO birthplaces
failed me, Wales. Scotland and
Canada have furnished one-half of
the English cabinet.
take no part in English politics.
The only way I know a liberal is
because he offers me a cigar, and
the only way recognize a con-
servative is because he does not
shake hands with me. But my
conversation with the Scot led me
to wonder wha: the history of the
British Empire might have been
and to philosophize upon what
even yet it's future may be IL the
Ir;shman should conclude to fol-
man and to make up his mind.
when he discovers that he cannot
lick the British Empire, to join 1t.
With the capacity that the Irish
man in America has disclosed not
only for office-hold;ng, but for
genuine statecraft. 1t would not be
at all unlikely that in a decade the
cabinet of the British Empire
would be very largely Irish.
The Scotchman pointed the way
to the world. The future must
walk a path of compromise. 1t
must be guarded along it's COM
promising way by justice. honesty.
fair dealing and mutual regard
for the feelings and sensibilities Of
all. The peace of the world cannot
come at the hands of statesmen
who will not make concessions, nor
at the wish of peoples who wrap
themselves in the mantle of their
own provincialism. 1t cannot come
from England. Scotland. ireland.
1t must come from all of them.
plus America and all other nations.
A super-government may not be
essential. but supreme and uni
versal desire for friendship. justice
and peace is absolutely necessary.
Copyright, 1922. 21st, Century Press)