The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-03-19


We have witnessed in this last eight
years the spread Of revolution over
one.third of the world. The causes Of
these explosions lie at far greater
depths than the failure Of govern
ments in war. The war itself in its
last stages was conflict Of social
philosophies-but beyond this the
causes of social explosion lay in the
great inequalities and injustices of
centuries flogged beyond endurance
by the conflict and freed from re
straint by the destruction Of war. The
urgent forces which drive human So
oiety have been plunged into n ter
rible furnace. Great theories spun by
dreamers TO remedy the pressing hu-
man ills have come 10 the front of
mems minds. Great formulas came in
to life that promised To dissolve all
trouble. Great masses Of people have
fiocked otheir banners in hopes born
Of misery and suffering. Nor has tie
great social ferment been confined
10 those nations that have burned
with REVOLUTIONS.
Now ias the storm OF war. Of revo-
luton and of emotion subsidies there
is left even with us OF the United
States much unrest much discomfort
with the surer forces OF human ad-
vancement. To all OF us. out Of this
crucible OF actual. poignant individual
experience has come u deal OF new
understanding. aud it is for all OF US
10 ponder these new currents II We
are TO shape our future with intelli-
gence.
New Ideas Spread.
Even those parts Of the world that
suffered less from the war have been
partly infected by these ideas. Beyond
this. however. riany have had high
hopes Ok civilization suddenly puli-
fled and ennobled by the sacrifices
and services Of the war; they had
thought the fine unity Of purpose
gained IN the war would be carried
into great unity Of action in remedy
Of tho faults Of civilization IN peace.
But from concentration OK every
spiritual and material energy upon
the sinGla purpose - war the scene
changed TO the immense complexify
and the many purposes Of peace.
Thus there loom up certain tlefinite
underlying forces in our national HE
that need TO be stripped Of tne iinagi-
nary-the transitory--and defini.
ton should be given 10 the actual
permanent and persistent motivation
OF our civilization. In contemplation
OF these questions we must 60 far
deeper than the superfieials Of our
political and economic structure. Tor
these are but the products OF our so
cial phiiosophy-the machinery Of our
social system.
Nor Is II ever amiss 10 review IN.
political. economic. and spiritual prin-
oiples through which our country has
steadily grown IN usefulness and
greatness. not only 90 preserve them
from being fouled by false notions
but more importantly thai We nay
guide ourselves In the road ~ prog.
rcss
Social Ideas Conflict.
Five or ak great social ph.losophles
are at struggle IN the world Tor as
tendency There is the Mdlyidnalism
of America. There is tile individual.
ism OF the more democratic states of
Europe with its careful reservations
OF castes or classes. There are com
munlsm. socialism. syndiealism. cap
itallsn. and finally there IS autoeraey
whether by birth or by possessions.
milltarism. or divine right of kings.
Even the divine right still fingers
on although our lifetime has seen fui-
iy two thirds OF the earfhs population