Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-10-22

tho inner councils OF the Ministry Of
Food know how that spectre haunted %
last winter, how perilously near We
we're to disaster, how our fAte and the
fate Of our Allies hung upon ths capac.
|i.y OF tho United States to feed a..
There was ono dark period when It
seemed that It could not be done. The
harvest Of last year Ii the United States
Was per cent below the average, and
the normal export Of food from tho
United States 10 only u per cent OF the
total production. That is to say, the,
harvest wss 3 per : cent below the
country's normal homo consumption.
But something little short Of . miracle
wss performed. The United States
poured into the countries OF tho Allies
ten million tons Of food, and saved them
10 tho economic fleld - hersoldiers have
helped to save them on the battlefield.
In oil the achievements OF the war there
has been nothing more remarkable than
this, and In any true estimate of the
personal triumpbs OF the war there 10
none that would rank above that OF Mr..
Hoover, who 10 now on q visit to this
country and the Allies generally to ar
range what the President calls the
common table," -
MORAL WEIGHT.
But Mr.. Hoover would himself be the
first to disclaim the credit for the
miracle. 1t belongs to the American
people, who, at his inspiration, volun-
tarily gave up the use Of wheaton -four
In order that tie Allied armies and
peoples might be tided over the critical
months of spring and early summer.
There 10 no precedent for . self-denying
ordinance imposed on such q scale and
90 msgnif1oently carried out. The nation
which can do this thing by its own free
will is nation which may be trusted
with the task of making the world safe
for democracy, for It bas given the most
splendid witness to its capacity to make
any sacrifice for its faith.
: have not spoken of the extent to-
which the perfectly legitimate help OF
America-even while neutral-enabled
the Allies to survive the 6rst years of
the war, nor of the zoe, 900 tons of ship
ping per month With which she 10 now
helping to make the ravages Of the
U boat ineffective, nor OF the enormous
financial assistance, amounting to not
less than two millions day, which she
is giving to the Allies; but enough has
been said to indicate the magnitude Of
her material service. This service i'm
plies growing moral authority In the
war. As her weight in the material
scale increases her voice in debating
the issue becomes paramount.
''No THoRoUeHFARE"
It 10 this fact which IL the bsppiest
augury of the war. For the peace the
world wants 10 the peace which Presi-
dent Wilson has 90 steadfastly insisted
on-a peace which will abolish tho
causes of war by abolishing competitive
armaments and establishing the world
on basis of cooperative organization,
government, security, and public right.
It 10 not the European peoples who need
to be converted to bis policy. It is the
Europea statesmen. In bis pamphlet
on the League of Nations Viscount Grey
indicated this very plainly.
The idea, he said, must be adopt
ed with earnestness and conviction
by the Executive Heads Of States.
It must become an essential part OF
their practical policy, one Of their
chief reasons for being or continuing
to be responsible for the policy
Of their States. They must not
adopt 1t only to render lip-service to
other persons, whom 1t 10 inconven.
lent or ungrscious to displease.
They must lead and not follow; they
must compel II necessary and not be
compelled.