Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-29
SOMEWHAT OF A coNuNDRuM

SOMEWHAT OF A coNUNDRUM
Lord Birkenhead. former Lord
Chancellor of England, came to this
country to speak before the forum
at Williamstown, the Institute of
Politics. In his address, there he dis
cussed the Jeremy Bentham philos-
ophy to the effect that self-inter-
est is the necessary underlying
motive of human endeavor. In
course of this he referred to the
idealism of Woodrow Wilson as
shown in after the war developments.
He characterized Wilson's message
as a noble one of hope, but I'M
happily in the sequel proved to be
his principal equipment"
Certain individuals Immediately
found place In the news columns
of the day by denouncing Birken-
heads allusion to Wilson's policies.
A De Valera organization passed
resolutions to the effect that he
should be deported.
Extremely interesting If one be an
expert in tempests in tea-pots. If
self-interest be the motive-spring of
Lord Birkenhead we doubt whether
he will not find profit from the
criticism. We cannot see wherein
the policies Of Woodrow Wilson
while President are not open to dis
cussion at an institute of politics.
They were public policies and as
such are and should be open to dis
cussion, assuming that to be cour-
teously and honorably conducted.
Indeed, in the interest Of truth. If
nothing else, public policies should
bs open to discussion aid decent
criticism.
A. to the need Of reminding US
that we should consider self-interest
in our world relations, that Is an
other matter. Birkenheads country
men have intimated or accused us as
a people of thinking of nothing else.
That depends on how far We carry
this idea of self-interest. If self
interest is best served only when
justice and equity may prevail, well
and good. That is a wise person
who comprehends that self-interest
is best served by the welfare of all.
Perhaps we have had too much
idealism: surely we must keep it
in right proportion or we become
the star gazer who never looks down
to see where his feet are taking him.
But it is equally perilous not to
have enough. Birkenhead tells us
that a dozen powerful, INSCRIPTIONS
men, celebrating privately in Berlin,
brought about the war, which proved
to be anything but conducive to
their self-interest. They thought
they knew what self-interest was,
but they didn't. Europe thinks 1T
knows what self-interest is when it
surrenders to the Turk, but does it?
Instead of reminding us that we
must consider our self-interest would
it not have been better had the dis
| tinguished Britisher admonished us
| to consider we'll what honest-to-
goodness self interest might be, all
| in the light of ideals. This, though
we would hardly expect him to stop
and weigh the matter of self-inter-
est while another drowned before
his eyes. 1t might require consider
able delay before he could arrive al
the conclusion that it would favor
his self-interest to jump in and
risk his life in trying to save the
drowning. We don't like to think
of any sturdy Britisher doing that
sort of thing. you know.
On the other hand, he may have
| remembered what Ambassador Har-
| vey had to say about our going into
the war, that We did it wholly be-
cause of self interest and because
we didn't dare to. stay out or words
to that effect. Just why the United
States that has done more for Europe
the past few years than Europe ap-
pears to have done for itself II
some respects, needs to be urged tC
depend on self-interest, by its owl
or another country's representative
romans somewhat of q cop,Ipdr,,Y,,