Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1920 — TEACHING OF HISTORY [ARTICLE]

TEACHING OF HISTORY

Those who know anything at all of history must realize that the world is traveling precisely the path it took after all great wars, and is repeating the same mistake. After the overthrow of Napoleon the governments of Europe were deeply impressed with the necessity of form Ing some sort of international organization that would safeguard the results of the allied victory and prevent future wars. An honest effort was made by those responsible for the holy alliance, but that alliance failed, not because it constituted a league of nations, but because it was wholly in the hands of rulers, most of whom were reactionary, and haters of liberty. It was felt by the wisest men that the least that could be done was to keep alive the alliances ah between the powers that had broken the Napoleonic despotism. But ultimately conditions drifted back to the old status. Separate and often secret alliances were

formed, the balance of power system was set up again, international rivalries and suspicions revived, armaments began to increase, and even when there was no war people lived in constant terror of it. There was a long period of peace in Europe, except for revolutionary outbreaks and the movements to suppress them, but this was due to the fact that the nations were impoverished and exhausted, and sick and weary of fighting. But 40 years after Waterloo came the Crimean war, and since then there has been enough fighting in the world to satisfy—if not to sicken —the most bloodthirsty. The situation now is much worse, and infinitely more dangerous than it was after the Napoleonic wars. For the whole of Europe is in a state of unsettlement and disorder, and there are no strong governments in control. There may be no great war for many years, but there can be no such assurance of immunity as there was a hundred years ago. Yet we are proposing to leave things at loose ends, and to trust once more to the old palliatives. Men are again talking of the balance of pqwer —with America left out —and are mole-blind to the most glaringly apparent need of the time, that is international co-operation in behalf of peace, and a continuation of the alliance and associations which won the war for freedom. It is, of course, a very great tragedy. One would not have dreamed a year ago that such a result was within the bounds of possibility. It was assumed as a matter of course that we were going to safeguard the happy results of the war, one of which was supposed to be an enduring peace. The world was to be delivered, not only from war but the fear of it. Ever since 1870 France had been living in daily dread, and during all that time Germany was felt to be a menace to the world. Fear was the prevailing sentiment throughout Europe. The great war was, as all thought, one tc “end war." But how is it today? We have not only refused to go into the league of nations, but are every day drawing further and

further away from those great nations which for four years stood like a rock against a savage despotism. There is said to be no chance for the Anglo-French-American treaty, no chance —If things continue to go as they have been going—for enduring friendship between us and our friends. We shoilld think that the men responsible for this catastrophe would be troubled by very bad- dreams. ( But the outstanding element is dense stupidity—if not (hat, a criminal recklessness in the way of taking chances. A wonder* ful opportunity to serve the world and ourselves has been rejected. And a miserable partisanship is responsible for it all. —Indianapolis News.