Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-05-21
BORAH AND NOAH

Senator BOrah told the sluoeh1S Va
the University of Michigan the other
evening, when lecturing to them
against the World Court and IN raw
or of recognizing Russia.
He did not attempt to denne JUS
tice-it is fortunate for him perhaps
that some student did not ask him
to do so, also how he would apply II
to mundane affairs.
What Borah regards justice might
not so be considered by his neigh
bors. How secure justice under
those conditions? He neglected tc
fell us. An important oversight il
might seem.
What is regarded justice by those
bolsheviks, who have Russia by the
throat, doesn't seem like justice L
most of us here in America. Wha'
was regarded justice in the time o.
the French Revolution was found oS
experience not to have been IN al
respects justice. Possibly Borar
doesn't himself know and If he does
he surely does not know how he may
convince everybody else of 1t ano
secure their willing acceptance OF
his opinion.
The world has been cropping to-
ward Justice for thousands OF years
and has been unable clearly te
discern or secure it. And yet II
is true that permanent peace de-
ponds upon attaining it approx
mately. The world has, through the
fundamentally of law and the
courts, through education Of public
sentiment, through finding ways FOL
that sentiment to find expression, OBJ
tanned ever clearer and more COM
prehensive understanding Of What
really constitutes justice. Mankind
has established those ways largely
by force. We made an efective
start in our revolution from British
tyranny in 1875.
But Borah would have us believe
that force is unnecessary In inter-
national controversies, declaring:
"It is not necessary to uphold the
decisions of a court by force!'
Force of nature compels us te
obey the laws Of nature or pay the
penalty. All the way, by force o.
gravity to the force behind the tax
gatherer, mankind is in some re-
spects undergoing along the ages 9
shaping process under the influences
of forces, both those which he con-
trolls and those he does not.
That we should not place too grea'
reliance on physical and too little or
the force of public opinion is o.
course true. That was well within
the province of the Senator to urge
upon us, but why grossly exagger'
ate? It might be said that too mucf
of that attitude leads to driveling
that already in this country we are
coming to place too much depend
ence on public opinion without pro-
vision against public opinion having
a sudden change. What is to keel
it steadfast? Surely not extravagan
and unsupported statement.
Saying the flood was. merely
shower didn't save from drowning
those who scorned to take sheltel
| in Noah's Ark. Noah, 1t appears
resorted to enough physical force re
quired to build the ark, contrary t.
what was at that time the prevail
| ing public sentiment. Had he wait
| ed until he had educated public
sentiment to his views he would have
waited too long, the ark would no
have been built and Noah woult
have encountered that which would
at least have spoiled the tradition
Anyhow, we must conclude there il
such a thing as knowing enough t.
come in out of the rain. The force
Of experience has taught us that.