Oxford eagle., 1918-01-17
SENATOR JAMES X.
vAROANAH'S NEW
YEARS GREETING
TO the PEOPLE or MISSISSIPPI

The shadows OF a worlds disaster
encompasseth US about as a binding
FOG. They not only obscure the men
tai vision, but the moral perspective
is distorted as well Hope is stified
and we stand and gazr and wonder
what viii happen next Everything
seems bnormal. out Of Joint, and the
pernicicus predominates
large part OF the civilized world
have just celebrated the birth OF One
whose mission 10 earth was TO bring
peace TO mankind drive from out the
heart the clouds OF unhappiness,
sweep away the chilling apprehen-
sions OF pessimism. and in their stead
Ill 1t with hope, great light Of JOY,
and that peace which passeth all un-
derstanding He taught the nations
OF the earth the foolishL ess and fu-
ulity OF war-the wisdom OF beating
their swords into plowshares and
their spears into pruning hooks, that
nations should not lift UP sword
against nation. CT learn the lessons
OF war any more Two thousand years
OF planting and cultivating those d.
vine precepts seems 10 have affected
sterile sands of Sahara. Instead OF
peace. we have plunder; and brutal
ity and hate have taken the place OF
love and benefieent altruism. The
worlds lip service to the Christ Is
irreconcilably in conflict with pain
ful actualities. But they tell us that
II is all for the best God grant that
they may be true. ! hope that from
~ k.A~ A-A -.
the blood-soaked soil Of war the flow
ers Of love may blossom. I hope that
out OF the twilight Of the shadovsed
past we y move into dIviner Iiaht-
But ! do not know cannot tell
] can only wait and hope.
We are told that there are planets
90 remote from this earth that the
light has not reached II, although II
has been travelling since the dawn of
creation. The fact that this world
disaster is for the GOOD OF humanity.
Ike the light OF that distant planet,
may reach our understanding in years
TO come. Ii is prudent and provi-
dent always TO hope for the best.
Optimism is a good investment-that
out Of all this murder and plunder
49, pSItOudl dlQ Dl
ton. vanity for power. greed for gain
ohghted lives and blssied hopes. may
come al last the ruth that II was ali
for mans betterment
The whole world is afire with the
passion Il war and America has been
sweep into the vortex Blood lust
seems 10 have temporarily dethroned
the reason OF man and greed for gain
hM 81.
The love OF money is the root OF many
evils which are perplexing the minds
OF statesmen today And ! am afraid
II accounts for much OF the sand
which clogs in the grooves OF com
merce. ] believe there are men in
America today-pstriots for peif-
who would wrap their sell-fed car
cases in the American FLAG, and, with
the words OF patriotism upon their
lying lips. scuttle the Ship OF State or
eunisry personal advantage.
Collective murder has become the
order OF the hour. and he who sue
ceeds In destroying the largest mum
Der OF human beings is the interna-
uonal hero OF the moment The ge-
MUS Of mankind Is being tested to de-
wise the most destructive weapons.
and deathless renown is promised TO
MIN who inyents the instrument that
sends the most men into eternity.
RIVERS OF women's tears run red with
the blood OF murdered husbands,
sons, fathers and brothers: the cries
OF GRIEF. the means OF the broken
hearted I'LL the circumambient air
ArHt kn
spheres. while the accumulated hor-
rors OF war press down upon US like
troubled visions o'er the breast of
dreaming sorrows- II Is a time for
retrospeetion and prayer. and 10 put
ones self In tune with the Infinite
and to live the spirit OF the Golden
Rule Is vitality necessary at this mo-
ment. For two thousand years the
world has never needed a Savior
quite 20 desperately and deplorably
as now Never was there so great a
demand for brave men, true men, pa-
triotic men. men with q vision as
well as will-never so much did we
need the great woman with her di.
vine intuition which In the darkness
points unsrringly the proper way
when reason fails to furnish the light
~ now.
When wilt Thou save the Peoplef
Oh. God Of Mercy. whenf
Not kings and lords. but nations:
Not thrones and crowns-but men:
Flowers OF Thy heart. o God. are
they
Let them not pass like weeds away
Their heritage sunless day.
God save the people!"
The old landmarks are torn down
and thrown into the waste heap. A
new order OF things is at hand. New
doctrines In government are being
taught The constitution Of the
United States has been well-nigh sus.
pended-the world has discarded the
Sermon on the Mount-the Golden
Rule has seemingly been forgotten,
and the Decalogue has become but a
chain OF highsounding phrases.
l have thought all these matters
over In the anxious moments OF the
midnight have gone to the Source