Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/303

 THE NORTH SLESWIC QUESTION 2gi

pleading the cause of his^country before a court of equity com- posed of the intelligent men and women of a friendly and fair- minded but far-away nation ? What will his appeal avail ? A world that saw Armenia bleed and stood by in silent horror fearing the complications intercession might engender ; that hears the wails of the homeless hosts of Roumanian Jews driven from place to place like hordes of cattle, and has no word of censure for their persecutors ; x that placidly wends its way while the air is rent by the manly protest of outraged Finland, and the groans of starving Russian peasants being shot down like dogs for demanding a share in the soil they tilled and the grain they grew will the moral sense of this enlightened world, when once aroused from its lethargy, prevail to stem the tide of iniquity surging out over the lands from the seats of power and engulfing in its muddy maelstrom so much that were worth pre- serving ? What use one might reason of arguing before a jury where, no matter what the evidence, a verdict is rarely reached, and, reached, never enforced ? Public opinion is an unreliable watchman whom it takes a constant supply of stimu- lants to keep awake ; who cries " Fire ! " at a shooting star, but tranquilly drowses at his post while the block is ablaze, dream- ing it is only that neighboring wall the ruin of which the Roman poet to the contrary notwithstanding he considers no concern of yours.

But it is your concern.

The problem of the small state if a problem it is bound to become will be solved according to the law of the survival of the fittest. The small state itself worthy to survive is willing that it should. Put on trial for its right to independent exist- ence, it will not ask for allowances on the score of its size ; nor is it apt to preface its plea with an apology to those of bigger

1 Since this was written, Secretary Hay's note to the powers, protesting against the treatment by Roumania of her Jewish population, has stirred up the European hornets' nest. If this plucky act should be devoid of practical results, nobody is likely to be disappointed. International jealousies are yet too rampant to lend to such a step by a disinterested government, however powerful, any other than a moral significance in setting a precedent and pointing the way. It is, however, to be hoped that Mr. Hay will not confine his efforts to third-class powers, but next time will go for bigger game.