The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-22
PEOPLES FORUM


To the Editor of The AEe-Herald:
In the days before which men
organized themselves into civilized
communities. acknowledging the
supremacy of law and submitting
to its decisions. all disputes were
settled by means of the sword, the
law Of the jungle obtained, and
the weakest went to the wall. But
as the populations increased 1t was
found that under this system
whole communities were exter-
minating each other. and that.
peaceful industries could not
flourish. Resorting to reason, i'm
PEELED by the spur of necessity,
courts of justice were established.
the domain Of which. in each ma
ton. with the years gradually in
creased. banishing brute force fur
tber and further back in an ever
widening circle.
But throughout the centuries, as
between nations. the old methods
of settling disputes by the sword
and all nations remained deaf to
the teachings and precepts of re-
ligion as well as to the common
instincts OF humanity. They re-
manned as hostile camps, bristling
with bayonets, each arrayed
against the other and as one ma
ton increased it's ornaments. all
the others with headlong haste
rushed to proportionate ausmen-
tation of theirs.
In natural course, there were
wars with all their horrors. the
burdens OF taxation were so in
creased as to become almost intol-
cradle. and while the nations were
spending the greater part of their
resources upon the art Of destruc-
ton. myriads of their subjects
were sunk in pauperism. ignorance
and degradation.
AS a result of this grievous
course. and as a natural conse-
quence. it is believed there finally
came the great World war. with
all it's horrors, deprivation. suffer-
ing, disorder and despair, its esti-
mated toll of ten million lives and
it's increased and fearful burdens
of taxation.
But with the World war there
came into the hearts of the ma
lions a realization Of something
other than the results Of ordinary
warfare. They looked upon the
new and fearful agencies Of de-
struction brought forward by the
war. and fear entered lin; there
came a realization as in the days
of old. that a continuance OF such
a course meant not only the ordi-
nary horrors following in the train
~ h,,H oh
perhaps. determination. So. as in
the olden days. touched by the
spur Of necessity. they again re-
sorted to reason. and there was
organized the League of Nations,
and its fruit. the international
court of justice. g.
But it is clear the establishment
OF these organizations proceeded
from reason as well a. necessity.
As In the case of individuals. 1t is
realized the international court
will not make the nations good;
that there will always be infrac-
tion of the law; but as domestic
cousts save the individuals from
turbulence and savagery and pre-
serve society, the international
court will save the nations from
war and anarchy. But to attain
this end, 1t is believed there must
be promulgated code of law by
which the nations shall be gov
erned; an Acknowledgement Of the
supremacy of this law and a sub
mission to its DEGREES.
But aside from these considera-
lions. the war system stands d.
rectly in the path Of Christianity.
Is opposed to justice. advocating
destruction of the weak; Is OPP
posed to reason which does not
prompt men to follow a path that