New Britain herald., 1918-12-28
Henry CIews
Weekly Letter
Especial to The Herald)

S@N0W Ofh, Lee. ES.-LOOkInE IOP-
70 and noc backward should be the
b an for 1919. Today the world is
- new problems of the most per
ttng character ever created, and
81 their solution the experiences of
a# closing year are .unavcidably Of
Ae value. For the next twelve
@11ths the most absorbing questions
~ be those relating to mobiliza-
M and reconstruction at home and
#3oad. The return of our army is
#Rady being conducted upon a lib
WI scale. and our fleet is again in
ne waters, both branches of the
vice having completed glorious
victorious errands.
n The year Closes with Central Eu-
AIe in a state of intense ferment,
II al to any that existed when war
- at its height. Russia is still
II lowing in a state of chaotic insan-
VI and no ore can tell whittier or
er'e the end will be, though every
~ familiar with Russian chara ctcr-
believes she will emerge from
I'M fire a purer and stronger nation.
@many seems to have steadied her
III against The shock following col
#se of the Hohenzollern dynasty.
HfolutiOn is working q, drastic cure
AFe also; but no such chaos exists
bin other Central Powers, for Ger
by is essentially an orderly and
8aking nation. and there is hope for
n establishment Of some sta BILE form
q dem ocratic govern ment; possibly
the federation CT Il series of semi
#.a7~ln nd 81 q fy-in
q Balkans and Turkey, the outlook
#still dark and uncertain, though
Il peace conference is likely to take
" these problems as far as practic-
Ne upon the lines of race, nationalt-
#9nd self determination.
Years will be required for the re-
Rtery of these nations; and many
hIerat:ons must pass before the bit
43ess and hatred melted by German
Fltality can be forgotten. If there
i 5ne great lesson TO be learned from
Ek terrible conflict, it is that it
Mtters much what sort Of ideals a
@ion stands for. Ever since the
gn OF Frederick the Great Ger
my has increasingly worshipped
3 ideals--force and self; and if all
81 complex forces which brought on
~ catastrophe be followed to the
4 analysis, these two primitive HUI
"a instincts will be found to have
- the main incentive. Happily
N three great nations that brought
&ernany to her knees fought to
SRsh these instincts, which so cruel
manifested themselves il relentless
ltarism and rampant ambition.
Story shows no great international
8uggle where the issues were so
8@rIy moral as in the one just end
u and it assuredly promises we'll for
Y future of the world that Ameri-
Britain and France were a unit in
war for freedom, equality and
Eternity. This is a trinity of ma
#ns and ideals that can be trusted
make the world free and safe for
bdocracy.
Fpne of the most impressive results
the war is our changed attitude
Aernationally; a change which has
yet been fully appreciated. But
Ne it as we may, we are no longer
ecluse among nations, for we have
Apped out boldly into the European
EIfa, spending blood and treasure
MkSI1lH HI III OOl vi " VI ACICI lIllilGIGlOlI
uphold great national ideals. Quite
|expectedly we developed great
ENer in world politics, largely be-
slse of our disinterested position:
IA it may be taken for granted that
will neither relinquish that power
NJ shirk it's obligations. Our presi-
3ht has set forth certain ideals. in
Bded for the good of mankind as
g1ch as for our selves. Difficult as
BY may be of realization, they cor
billy represent the views of the
herican people, and form one of
b most precious contributions of
3 war toward esta blishing the flu
be peace of the world. Mr.. Wilson
III certainly have the approval of
e majority of patriotic Americans
his efforts toward establishing
Ague of nations; and even should
#Gnot entirely succeed in his high
D ject he will at least have set
kth a living ideal which time and
9nmon interest may eventually turr
10 a practical reality.
aThe war quickly char ged this coun-
L from a debtor nation TO next the
lief creditor nation of the world;
our lOrS1Sn IFaQG 10 Sucl
Ndegrec that in less than five years
sr exports increased $50 per cent.
III our imports SO per cent. In even
ks time than that we absorbed, net.
Loco, 100000 securities, and have
30 loaned to our Allies about So
10. 600, 900 net. Our national wealth
estimated to have increased about
per cent; our bank deposits about
per cent. and our bank clearings
earIy 90 per cent. As a maritime
bwer we have leaped almost from
Ae bottom to q good second, having
boo, 900 tons already completed and
!, 100000 tons projected. In spite OF
De diversion of our ecor oD1ic ener-
Is and the consequent dislocation Of
Dor, we produced more than half
ge worlds supply Of copper and oil.
steel aud cotton we already pro-
Acet vastly more than any other ma
bn. We raised larger quantities Of
lain and cattle than ever in our his
nv. and Mr.. Hoover has told lis that
must send not less than 100000
MS of food this year to starving Eu-
me, which can safely be done with
Et ca,Isino any scarcitV at home. In