The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-24
AMERICAS RELATIVITY


 Einstein's relativity theory is automatic even to the unlearned when it is formulated to read that every particle of matter is af- fected by every other particle and that the character of every particle depends upon relativity; the particle is not itself alone but itself as relating to all other particles. Therefore, the particle is both an individual thing and, an infinity of things.
 It is the same way with ideas. They are relative. Once evolved they become af- fected by what has been thought before and they affect what is thought thereafter. They are part of the infinite of things. Also, we humans cannot escape from the influence of this relativity of ideas. Clem- encau, in his recent tour of the United States, had a pet phrase which he used in his speeches from day to day, saying: My friends, l tell you people cannot be great one day and small the next" These were his last words to America, and were spoken at the dinner given in his honor in New York City. In an expanded form the thought was often expressed by the distinguished visitor during his tour, in these words: "My friends, do you not see what has happened? Do you not see that the armistice was the Declaration of Independence transplanted 5 by you back to Europe?"
 The Fourteen Points were but the elabora- tion of the idea presented by MT. Wilson five years earlier when he announced that America would never again engage in war of aggression: Peace was it's theme; and our relativity to the world its basis. President 4lo+ 4, have reciprocal duty for the promotion of their welfare and happiness, and that the ancient rule of they shall take who have the power and they shall keep who can, must become obsolete and the practice of it pre- vented. We have tried to forget the teach ing. We have tried to keep the world from resolving. We have even said that there was danger in it, danger to the republic and that isolation is the only doctrine for : America to follow. But the truth works even with material that is adverse; and it is now influencing President Harding and number of influential republicans to action in harmony with itself. This is the meaning of the overtures toward effecting a settlement of Europe's troubles. Also, this explains the recrudescence of the Will son sentiment that the press of the country ,eis making such great ado over. It is not really probable that MT. Wilson in person will again take the helm in party leadership. The writers themselves do not believe it probably, even while they write that such thing may happen. What they mean is that the Wilson idea is taking hold again. In fact, it has not lost its hold, but simply been obscured by misrepresentation. It is fully alive, like all great truth, and mel lowed and affected for the better by relatv- ity, until it is likely to become the undis- puted doctrine of our own immediate day; most certainly it will become so in course or time-and no great time.
 We have to expect that the people will realize that former Justice John H. Clarke will preach in the campaign of instruc- tion he is about to undertake; that the mo- ment has come when we must no longer ignore the truth of our obligation as par tcle in the world or deny the relationship that makes us what we are. We strive to live isolated and alone when our very nature and situation make us part of world of things, acting and reacting; related in infin- ite ways, and necessarily as dependent upon others as others are dependent upon us. The day must be near at hand when we will recognize as people how futile is our effort to bar ourselves from the world.