Rotary's Power for World Peace

"Watchman, what of the night?''
"The morning cometh."

And so it has always been. Without night there could be no morning. God grant that the morning come soon to our dear friends in Great Britain and on the Continent and in China who are bearing the heaviest load of sorrow. In the darkness of this hour may we remember that morning is bound to come. Rotarians, let us prepare for the morning and make sure that it be the beginning of a more rational, more humane day.

Life never has moved smoothly. Cataclysm after cataclysm has marked progress in human affairs, but the significant fact remains that progress actually is being made though it is difficult to see it during such turbulent times. When the river of life seems to be running most smoothly, thunderous cataracts may be heard pounding below if one has ears to hear them; but the courses of great rivers are subject to the control of men when the thoughts of men turn in that direction. Even so, the current of international affairs will be subject to the control of men when men become wise enough and earnest enough and courageous enough to control it. To live in peace one with another is the greatest problem which the Creator has ever left man to solve.

In the midst of all this tumult and darkness the still, small voice of Rotary may be heard: "Peace on earth to men of good will." These words were not spoken first by Rotary, but Rotary carries them along.

This is not the first time that civilization has been shaken to its foundation stones. A little corporal in the army of France arose from the ranks and got all Europe into frenzies of fear. Monarchs trembled before the might of the little corporal, and one of them, King John of Portugal, fled to South America and there established his court. To guard the United States against the ravages of Napoleons yet to come, President Monroe promulgated the Monroe doctrine.

The sweep of Napoleon's armies across the face of Europe was more devastating than storms or floods. He pillaged art galleries and sacred shrines, demolishing that which he could not appropriate. Famine, fevers, plagues and death followed the armies of Napoleon. The ravages of the Goths and Vandals were nothing to his. No wonder that nations trembled. They called him the "Mad Man of Europe." They thought him the bravest of the brave and the greatest soldier the world had ever known. But there was one greater by far than Napoleon ‑ one from whom he took his orders, I speak of the great Generalissimo Fear. When fear entered the heart of Napoleon, it paralyzed his better nature and he become in truth the "Mad Man of Europe." His acts were inspired by frenzies of terror. Fear had free rein. It banished all sense of reason and justice and caused him to believe evil, both the possible and the impossible. Possessed of a vivid imagination and a hysterical nature, he conjured to his fancy all manner of tortures which he feared would be inflicted on him and his countryinen. He feared most of all the chain of steel which he believed certain European nations were forging around him through secret treaties. Those nations also were subjects of fear ‑ that is why they conspired against Napoleon. If one wants lunatics for neighbors, the one certain way to accomplish it is to inspire them with fear.

Napoleon not only surrendered completely to Generalissimo Fear, but he inspired his countrymen also to do likewise. Fear dominated high and low, the ignorant and the cultured, the rich and the poor. No one was free of its devastating influence Emotionalism was rampant.

There is a saying that tyrants never grow old. Foes within or foes without put an end to tyrants. Napoleon was the tyrant of tyrants, and Napoleon's entire life span was fifty‑two years. Within that tenure he wrought more destruction of life and property than had ever been wrought by mortal man before. The last days of his life were spent in captivity at St.‑Helena without glamour or pageantry and far from the sound of marching feet. He who counted not the loss of a million men died as humble citizens die. Tyrants never grow old.

As sure as the fact that Europe arose from the devastation of the mad man of former days it will arise again. The morning will come. The great question is: Shall we be prepared to face its momentous problems? Is anything of permanent good to come of the terrible destruction of life in the present war? I think that there is. I believe that none of us will be content to make again the same mistakes which we made at the close of the last war. If an impracticable League of Nations was the off spring of the World War, perhaps a practicable League of Nations will be the child of the present war, and the new League of Nations will be used as an agency to promote international understanding and good will even as Rotary International is used today. A League of Nations is not an empty dream. It is far more practicable than war. If the coming morning ushers in permanent peace in Europe, Africa and Asia it will have justified all of the cost in lives and property of all wars since the beginning of time.

We do not want lunatics or despots as neighbors, whether they be in Europe or elsewhere. It is not the part of wisdom to cause our neighbors to fear us. It is the last thing in the world to hope for. We must stand so straight that we seem to be leaning backward in this respect.

The voice of the Americas should be heard. These countries, having no purpose to serve other than the preservation of peace throughout the world, are in an especially good position to wield an important influence in peace conferences if they be represented by strong and able men who will not permit themselves to be swayed either by their own prejudices or by the prejudices of others. Are the Americas, home of most of the Rotarians assembled at this convention, fitted for the task? Will the representatives of the Americas at the peace table, around which representatives of the nations eventually must gather, be able and willing to carry intelligently and fairly the unprecedented responsibilities thrust upon these countries as preservers of civilization? Will the Americas insist that the slate be wiped clean and that a new order in international affairs be set up and that friend and foe have equal voice in the councils?

If so, morning will come, and it will be followed by a glorious day. This will be the Americas' greatest opportunity. Will these countries which we love arise to the emergency? If so, morning will come.