Evening star., 1949-04-01

Gr&ly py bylElAn LlouGNks C1eAtcu
the League Of Nations. This Is
their defense before history. and
had the league been resolutely sus-
tanned and used. 1t would have
saved Us ali.
This was not 70 be. Another OF
deal even more appalling than the
! first lay before US. Even when 50
much else had failed We could have
obtained q prolonged peace, lasting
all our lives at least. simply by
keeping Germany disarmed IN &C
cordance with the treaty, and by
treating her with justice and mag
nanimity. This latter condition
was very nearly achieved al Lo-
carno In 1926. but the failure 10
enforce the disarmament clauses
and above ali TO sustain the League
of Nations, both Of which purposes
could easily have been accomplish
ed, brought upon us the second
world war. Once again the English
speaking world gloriously but mar
rowly emerged, bleeding and breath
less, but united as we never were
before. This unity Is our present
salvation. because after all our vic
tories, We are now faced by perils,
both grave and near. and by prob
lens more dire than have ever
confronted Christian civilizati ton.
even in this goth century OF storm
and change.
Key Of Deliverance
| In the United Nations.
There remains however q key OF
deliverance. 1t Is the same key
which was searched for by those
who labored to set up the World
Court at The Hague in the early
years Of the century. 1t Is the
same conception as animated Pres
ident Wilson and his colleagues at
Versailles, namely the creation of
q world instrument capable at least
OF giving to all its members secur-
ity against aggression. The United
Nations organization which has
been erected under the inspiring
leadership OF my great wartime
friend, President Roosevelt. In place
of the former league, has so far been
rent and distracted by the antag-
onism of Soviet Russia and by the
! fundamental schism which has
opened between Communism and
the rest of mankind. But We must
not despair. We must persevere,
and If the gulf continues to widen,
we must make sure that the cause
of freedom Is defended by all the
resources of combined forethought
and superior science Here lies the
best hope of averting third world
struggle, and a sure means Of COM
ing through it without being en-
shaved or destroyed.
One of the questions which We
are debating here is defined as
failure of social and political in
stitutions to keep pace with material
and technical change" Scientists
should never underrate the deep
seated qualities Of human nature
and how, repressed in one direc-
ton they will certainly break out
in another. The genus homo-if I
may display my Latin--is tough
creature who has Travelled here by
very long road. His nature has
been shaped and his virtues in
grained by many millions of years
of struggle, fear and pain. and his
spirit has, from the earliest dawn
of history, shown itself upon oc-
casion capable of mounting to the
sublime, far above material condi-
tions or mortal terrors. He still
remains as Pope described him two
hundred years ago:
placed on this isthmus of q
middle state
A being darkly wise and rudely
great
Created half to rise and half TO
Great lords of all things. yet
prey to all.
i Sole Judge of truth In endless
error hurled,
The glory, Jest and riddle of
the world"
Spark Can Awaken
The Soul Of Man.
In his Introductory address, DR..
Burchard, the dean of humanities,
spoke with awe of IAN approaching
scientific ability to control mems
thoughts with precision" I shall
be very content II my task In this
world Is done before that happens.
Laws Just or unjust may govern
mems actions. Tyrannies may re-
strain or regulate their words. The
machinery of propaganda may pack
their minds with falsehood and
deny them truth for many genera
tions of time. But the soul OF
man thus held In trance or frozen
in q long night can be awakened
by a spark coming from God knows
where and in q moment the whole
structure of lies and oppression Is
on trial for its life. People In
bondage should never despair.
Science no doubt could If sufficiently
perverted exterminate us all but
! it is not In the power of material
forces in any period which the
Youngest here tonight need take
| into practical account. to alter the
main elements in human nature or
restruct the infinite variety Of forms
| in which the soul and genius OF the
human race can and will express
itself.
How right you are in this great
institution Of technical study and
achievement to keep dean OF
humanities and give him so COM
manding a part to play in your
discussions! No technical knowledge
can outweigh knowledge OF the
humanities in the gaining of which
philosophy and history walk hand
| in hand. Our inheritance of we'll
founded slowly conceived codes OF
honor, morals and manners, the
passionate convictions which SC
many hundreds of millions share
together of the principles OF free
dom and justice, are far more pre-
cious to us than anything which
scientific discoveries could bestow
Those whose minds are attracted
/ ~~ g. ~;rnl ard rur,a q i.