Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/332

In the Národní Listy, (Prague) “F. P.” discusses the attitude of the two leading political parties of America toward the League of Nations. After reviewing the action of the United States Senate on the Peace Treaty he points to the advocacy for creation of an International Court of Justice, in the Republican platform, saying: “Will the system of a high judicial international tribunal be sufficient to assure world peace? Is it not necessary to have more effective guarantees? Is it not necessary to have in international relations, as in internal relations of a State, a legislative force which would mete out strict justice when ethical persuasion proves insufficient? Whatever may be the answers to these questions the platform of the Republican party is in perfect accord with the traditions of the country as annunciated by George Washington—not to engage in “entangling alliances” with people whose soul is thirsting for justice.”

Continuing he says, “We have come to know this (American) soul during the war. There was no distinction between Republicans and Democrats at the crucial moment when the enslaved nations of battling Europe cried for help. Then, America was not bound by alliances with European States, but at the psychological moment of the world’s history it rose to decisive action. The President of France (Deschanel) pictured on April 6, 1917 in the Senate this moment in an inspired address. ‘A committed crime invites vengeance. Following a harvest of sorrow comes a harvest of justice. But the cries of women and children from the depths of chasms into which they were cast by hideous criminals resounded throughout the world. Ashes of Washington and Lincoln shuddered in their graves. Their great souls lifted America. Honor, morality and liberty are the most valuable institutions, in the battle for these was hoisted high the American starry banner. The descendants of a new England, educated in the precepts of the gospel, come forth to punish before the face of God the hellish acts of the devil, falsehoods, false swearing, murder, robbery, slavery. The Catholics wounded to their hearts by insults heaped at their cathedrals; university professors, dependable guardians of the thoughts of right; manufacturers, laborers and skilled artisans, endangered in their peaceful tasks, aroused at the insults thrown at their national flag, all came prepared for the contest against an insane snobbishness, striving to conquer the earth, the sea, the heavens, and the soul! The country whose whole history rests in a development of the idea of liberty remains loyal to its ideals and obligates people with new gratitude!—Thus America grasped its duty and acted accordingly. Loyal adherents of the Monroe Doctrine did not hesitate to support those whom they now attack.. What did Theodore Roosevelt say to the Belgian deputation at Oyster Bay in 1917? ‘Peace, which would not assure reparation to Belgium would not be just.’ A just peace we shall have only when on the ashes of Austria there shall rise the Czechoslovak Republic. We recall what a mighty inspiration was America to us during the war, particularly when Tzarish Russia failed us and Socialistic Russia deserted us. Therefore, we have no reason to look to the elections, which will give America a new president for the next four years, with any anxiety. The soul of America spoke through the mouth of the Republican, Roosevelt, and through the mouth of the Democrat, Wilson. The world, therefore, must not fear any acts which have the sanction of American conscience.”

Recently one of the Chicago Bohemians had an opportunity to visit the Mount Wilson Observatory in California. After being shown about the place and taken through all of the secret compartments, in the topmost framework he discovered a plate with the legend “Erected by Wensel Morava, Chicago, Ill.” Upon inquiry it was found that Mr. Morava, a Czech, is one of the leading iron structural engineers and erectors of the middle west and that he has successfully engaged in this line for a great many years, having built many large steel structures in Chicago and other cities.

Vienna is getting rid of the population which it can no longer support. The recent provisional census gives the population as 1,833,708, or less by 400,000 than in 1910. There were 851,604 men and 987,014 women.