Evening star., 1940-12-28

# cause - n e
& League of Ma
tions. The fail
David Lawrence. ure of world COL
laboratlon, often ascribed to Amer
lean aloofness and often to the ma
tionalism of postwar France and
the wobbling craftsmanship of Brit
ain, was not as complete when Mr..
Wilson died in 1924 as it became in
later years. But there remains-and
1t is worth reproducing today-a re-
markable prophecy by Mr.. Wilson
published in August, 1923, in the
Atlantic Monthly. 1t was called
"The Road Away From Revolution" J"
Democracy, wrote the wartime
President, has not yet made the
world safe against irrational revolu-
ton That supreme task, which is
nothing less than the salvation OF
civilization, now faces democracy,
insistent, imperative. There is no
escaping it, unless everything we
have built up is presently to fall in
ruin about us; and the United
States, as the greatest of democra-
cies, must undertake it. The road
that leads away from revolution is
. clearly marked, for it is defined by
the nature of men and of organized
society. 1t, therefore, behooves us
to study very carefully and very
candidly the exact nature of the
task and the means of its accom-
plishment.
Christian Justice Necessary.
"The nature of men and of Or
ganized society dictates the mainte-
nance in every field of action of the
highest and purest standards of
justice and of right dealing, and it
is essential to efficacious thinking
In this critical matter that we
should not entertain narrow or
technical conception of justice. BY
justice the lawyer generally means
the prompt, fair and open applica-
ton of impartial rules; but we call
ours a Christian civilization and
Christian conception OF justice must
be much higher. 1t must include
sympathy and helpfulneSs and
willingness to forego self-interest In
order to promote the welfare, hap
piness and contentment of others
and of the community as whole.
This is what our age is blindly feel
ing after in it's reaction against
what it deems the too great selfish
ness of the capitalistic system.
THE sum of the whole matter is
this-that our civilization cannot
survive materially unless it be re-
deemed spiritually. 1t can be saved
only by becoming permeated with
the spirit of Christ and being mace
free and happy by the practices
which spring oAlt of that Spirit. Only
thus can discomfort be driven out
and all the shadows lifted from the
road ahead.
Here is the final challenge to
our churches, to our political organ
izations, and to our capltallsts-to
every one who fears God or loves
his country. Shall we not all ear
nestly cooperate to bring in the
new day?"
Urges Reform on Capitalists.
IN that same article, which was
the last he wrote, Mr.. Wilson made
an appeal to the leaders of capital
Ism to reform themselves before 1t
was too late. He said:
There must be some real ground
for the universal unrest and per-
turbation. 1t is not to be found In
superficial politics or in mere eco
nomic blunders. 1t probably lies
deep at the sources of the spiritual
life of our time. 1t leads to revolu-
tion, and, perhaps, if we take the
case of the Russian revolution, the
outstanding event of its kind in our
age, we may find a good deal OF
instruction for our judgment OF the
present critical situations and cir
cumstances.
ct is to be noted as leading
fact of our time that it was against
CAPITALISM that the Russian leaders
directed their attack. 1t was capl-
talism that made them see red, and
1t is against capitalism under one
name or another that the discon-
tented classes everywhere draw their
indictment.
"There are thoughtful and we'll
Informed men all over the world who
believe, with much apparently sound
reason. that the abstract thing, the
system, which we call capitalism is
indispensable to the industrial sup
port and development OF modern
civilization. And yet every one who
has an intelligent knowledge of So
cial forces must know that great
and widespread reactions like that
which is now unquestionably mani
Testing itself against capitalism do
not occur without cause or proVoca-
tion: and before we commit our
selves irreconcilably to an attitude
of hostility to this movement OF
the time we ought frankly to put
to ourselves the question: Is the
capitalistic system unlmpeachaole!
Which is another way of asking: ::
Have capitalists generally used their
mower for the benefit of the coun-
tries in which their capital is en-
ploved and for the benefit OF their
fellow men?
Are Disconnected to Blame?
"Is 1t not, on the contrary, TOO
true that capitalists have often
seemed to regard the men, whom
they used, as mere instruments OF
nrofit-whose physical and mental
powers it was legitimate to exploit
with as slight cost to themselves as
possible, either of money or OF SYM
pathy? Have not many fine men
who were actuated by the highest
PRINCIPLES in every other relation
Ship of life seemed to hold that
generosity and humane feeling were
not AMONG the imperative mandates