PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
The Editorial Page
Nationalism - Good Or Bad?
In recent decades a great deal of the world's intellectual energy has been spent in examining what has come to be called the menace of nationalism. The idealists have decided that nationalism must go, if the world is to live in peace and international unity. It is jealously guarded sovereignty, embodied in the idea of nationalism, they say, that has prevented the states of the world from coming from behind their boundries to achieve a unity that will spell peace. However, it is possible that nationalism is not the villain it has been made out to be.
Feudal Perils
In feudal Europe it was not safe for the individual to travel from one small hamlet to another to trade or visit for fear of the scavengers of some petty lord in the region in which he wished to travel. Feudal lords were constantly pitted against each other in struggles that were minor but the source of much chaos and disturbance to the society of that day. Each lord was sovereign unto himself, and it was not until sovereignty passed to a more powerful lord, the king, and later to the state itself, that it was safe for men to travel and to trade with each other and to enjoy a greater peace and security than they had ever known.
It was nationalism that spelled defeat for the totalitarian dictators in the last war. Because of her national sentiments England was able to withstand the German horde at her very coasts, Russia was able to batter and pursue the Nazis at Stalignerd, and little Greece was able to make fools of the Italian dictator's legions.
Post-War Nationalism
In the post-war world it is nationalism that has enable Czechoslovakia to rise from the ashes of villages like Lidice, Belgium to enjoy one of the enviable spots in Europe's economy, and France to shake off the grip of international communism.
Rather than being the destroyer of the world, nationalism seems first to have jeopardized it and then to have saved it from complete disaster. World peace may be achieved through nationalism rather than without it. The way to any higher sovereignty, such as the United Nations, over the group of individuals with common interests has been evolutionary in its development. Time is an important factor. Nationalism may not yet have run its historical course.
The Kuomintang
China's political strife stems from its one party government, the Kuomintang. Originally a radical and revolutionary group, it has become conservative and even reactionary with the years of its growing power
The Kuomintang was founded by Sun Yat-sen, China's great republic leader. When the empire came to an end in 1912, the Kuomingtang led the fight for a republican government. In 1917, Sun Yat-sen came to power. From then until his death in 1926, Sun tried to unify his country and throw off foreign domination. But he was not able to accomplish his goals. There were too many parties and war lords contending for power.
Sun Yat-Sen's Will
Shortly before his death, Sun wrote
in his will that to achieve a Chinese republic, the country must free itself from foreign domination, create a central government, and raise the standard of living of the masses. All of this was to be accomplished under a dictatorship with a single party, the Kuomintang.
The party members seized upon this as the solution to their troubles and the way to maintain power. Under the leadership of Chiang Kaishek, the party drove out the war lords and outlawed their political groups. They justified the dictatorship on the grounds that the people were not ready for democratic government, and that they were holding the country in trust for the people until the time came when they were ready to govern themselves.
Methods Not Legal
As a whole the Kuomingtang was sincere in its efforts to bring about a democratic government. They realized that the methods they were using were not legal, but they believed that the situation demanded strong measures. The parliament continued to function, but it was dominated by the Kuomintang and became a mere advisory body. The Japanese war tended to strengthen the dictatorship.
Under pressure from the United States, national elections were held in 1947. But the Kuomintang nullified this show of democratic government by refusing to recognize the Communist party. The few minor parties they did recognize were no match for the Kuomintang organization. Years of power had given them the inside to all government offices-John S. Smith.
Language Plea
Dear Editor.
I have heard able and sincere representatives of the committee on language requirements discuss both he majority and minority reports, and I feel that the matter merits further investigation.
I would not deny that language instruction has its proper place in the curriculum. I do not wish to challenge the claims made by the majority report concerning the value of language instruction, although I believe some of those claims are subject to serious question. I would rather consider the logic behind requiring languages for all students.
What are the announced goals of the proposed 12-hour minimum requirement? One is the acquisition of a linguistic tool. To my knowledge it has never been demonstrated that twelve hours of any language are sufficient to give a student a linguistic tool, even the
DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHO HOUSE IS?
University
Daily Hansan
Member of the Kansas Press Assm, Na-
Assm, and the Associated Collegiate
Press. Represented by the National Ad-
scription Service, 240 Madison Ave.
Wewk, WV 66135
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Editor-in-Chief .. William C. von Mauer
Managing Editor .. Alan J. Stewart
Asst. Man. Editor .. Cooper Rollow
Asst. Man. Editor .. Lois Lauer
City Editor .. Gov. Wagner
Asst. Man. Editor .. James Robinson
Telegraph Editor .. Wallace W. Abbey
Asst. Tel. Editor .. Clarke Thomas
Asst. Tel. Editor .. William Barger
Sports Editor .. Robert E. Wallinger
Asst. Sports Editor .. John Jones
Telegraph Editor .. James Jones
Women's Sports Editor .. Anna Mary Murphy
Feature Editor .. John Wheeler
Soccer Editor .. Mel Keller
Business Manager .. Betty Bacon
Advertising Manager .. Robert Alderson
Circulation Manager .. Otto Meyer
Classified Adv. Man .. Paul Warner
Asst. Class. Adv. Mgr .. David Adler
Promotional Manager .. Wister Shrewsy
superior student. To justify the requirement, we must turn to the other announced goals: viz., an increased understanding of the culture of a foreign country, and improved ability to think logically, improvement in English grammar, a broader outlook. Even assuming that such values can be obtained from the study of a foreign language, can we go so far as to assume that they can be obtained only by such a means? And yet, when we require a given course of study don't we in effect say to the student, "You need what we have to offer, and you can't get it any place else; therefore, you will take our course." Furthermore, are we justified in assuming that the average college student is incapable of making his own decisions, of choosing his own course of study wisely, when aided by capable and well-informed counselors, all of whom are members of the College faculty?
When you instructors vote on this issue next week, remember that your vote may influence the educational pattern of the entire state, that the issue is more basic than the value of language instruction in itself.
Arthur R. Partridge Graduate Student
What with Petrillo's recording ban and Wallace's third party getting to be old stuff, the radio comedians may soon be faced with the necessity of digging up some new jokes.
Charme Beauty Salon formerly Iva's Beauty Shop phone 533
phone 533
All types of beauty work by capable operators. Mid-winter special price on permanents machine and machineless.
Nettie L. Wolfe, Owner
Civil Liberties
On Feb. 2 President Truman sent a message to congress asking that certain civil rights proposals be enacted. The president had been talking about civil rights for some months, but now he was asking that they become something more than sweet talk. He was asking that racial equality and protection from persecution become national law.
In the two weeks since the president submitted his program, Southern political leaders have sounded off right and left. Their main gripe is that the president is playing politics for the Negro vote and that he will cost Southern Democrats their "white supremacy." They accuse President Truman of selling out the Democrats and flirting with minorities. In return for the president's civil rights ideas Southern Democrats threaten to bold the party. What The President Asks
What the president's civil rights program asks for is nothing new as far as moves for racial equality go. The same thing has been tried before by both Democrats and Republicans. But the South regards the Negro situation as strictly its own problem, and, so far, any attempt to interfere has been unsuccessful.
President Truman's program is easy to understand. He asks that lynching be regarded as a federal offense, that there be no poll tax to hamper voters, and that the Fair Employment Practice committee be backed by a national law with some teeth in it.
Lynching has been on the decline for the past 50 years. In the peak year of 1892 there were 213 lynchings. In 1920 there were 53. In 1940 there were five, and in the past year there was one lynching. Whatever else this decrease in lynchings shows, it surely proves that society has shown its disgust for acts of mob violence.
Poll Tax A Burden
As for the poll tax, which is required of both white and Negro voters, there are seven states which
GALES
American Custom Chocolates, $1.75 STOWIT'S Rexall STORE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1948
One Push He Didn't Expect When He Asked For Help
Muncic, Ind.—(UP)—Thayer R. Small's good neighbor policy resulted in an auto accident. When his neighbor, John H. Darnell couldn't get his car started, Smail helped out by giving it a push down the alley with his auto. The two men drove around the block in opposite directions and collided at an intersection a few minutes later. Neither was hurt.
require that a tax be paid in order to vote. The tax is small enough, ranging from $1 to the $2 charge required in Mississippi. But this extra burden has kept many prospective voters away from the poll.
The Fair Employment Practice committee was established during the war by President Roosevelt. At the time of its origin it caused some concern among Southern legislators. The FEPC never caught on, however, since it was an executive order and Southern legislators could limit its effectiveness. The FEPC is primarily intended to see that whites and Negroes are given equal job opportunities by both employers and unions. Under President Truman's proposal the FEPC would become a law instead of an executive order. We're going to be hearing a lot about it from now on—John F. Wheeler.
Call K. U. 251 With Your News.
"Always ready to serve"
Whether it's a snack or
A FULL-COURSE MEAL, you'll enjoy eating
GEMMELL'S CAFE 717 Mass. Ph.2071
2-800 UNION CAB CO.
A New Service for our Classified Advertisers
We will now take your want ads by telephone.
Call KU 376
(Hours 10-12 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. except Sat.)
Let our 9,000 (plus) readers know what you want to BUY, RENT, or SELL.
University Daily Kansas
Call KU 376 with your Want Ads
yar
$4,8
the
gre
dor
for
ly 1
Ges,
and
all
fou
estl
was
won
be
the
added, two more cells to the left.