South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-28
Civilization Thin
Crust on Savagery
of Primitive Man

When men resort 20 brute force %
settle a dispute that should be de-
termined on q basis OF reason ana
justice. when the doctrine tha
might makes right apparently hae
so many adherents. when the r.
movaI OF the visible manifestation
Of the power ~ law nc once un-
Ieashes the elements OF disorder. =
would seem that civilization has
succeeded in baking but Thin cruss
on the savaEery az primitive man
We boast OF our accomplishment
in progressing from n state Cf bar
barl.y. set the history ~ five years
casts doubt ON the security auC
stability of our situation. Ancien
civilizations were destroyed frou.
without as well as by weakness
within. There may Doe no northern
larbarians 20 swoop down upon us.
such as befeH the western empire.
nor Asiatic hordcs 10 duplicate the
fate of Byz8ntmm, but au enemy
within is more dangerous theu III n
approached from without ear5ed
a warrior.
II may seem absurd 30 suggest
that our covering OF civilization Is
SO slight and fragile that IL could
be destroyed There was probably
a time when Babylon. the great
would have thought prediction OF
destruction silly The same doubt
less is true OF all nations of an
t'quity They thought the progress
sive movement they had carried Or
would continue. that the cities they
had built and works they had con-
structed would survive through
tire, yet bats roost In the remains
% palaces and wolves howl where
once kings ruled.
If civilization as we know it
teaches anything. 10 tells US that
whore physical force is resOrted %
both contestants lose. One may be
worse hurt than the other. but
neither secures a profit above cost
Germany i'm loosing her organized
trute strength against the world
vas defeated but the victors suffer
almost as heavily When employ
ers and employees fail 20 agree on q
basis OF mutual benefit and mea.r,
ure their resources in industHal
combat, loss accrues 10 both, re-
gardless Of final result II civiliza-
ton had reached foil development.
would there be such willingness TO
man knew for impressing his de
sires2 Since we still adhere 10 the
way Of the primitive savage in set
Ting points on which there Is dis
agreement is il not clear that our
civilization is a shallow affair and
incapable OF functioning in emer-
gencies?
When a few hundred guardians
OF the peace struck in Boston. tho
elements Of disorder quickly seized
control OF the city. only by NJ
repressive influence Of the law
manifested through the uniforme
policemen, had the lawless chara
tiers been kept in subsection. WIZ
that was removed riot and 'rapine
followed
A recurrence Of the dark ages
may seem impossible. but those who
would tear down. who advocate de
q struction OF government and society
as constituted, who urge violence
and hate that which IS good. are or
ganized and bold in preaching their
doctrines throuEhout the world. The
idea that work is evil and 20 be
avoided is apparently gaining
ground.
Such theories are but the advance
Of conditions OF retrogresslon. with
out industry, without thrift without
proper regard for the rights Of the
other fellow we cannot progress
The unrest had placed "A test on our
civilization that VIII tell IT'S quality.
It may be that the veneer Is thin
oniv in spots and that the whole.
structure is in no danger OF giving
way Should Il fail under strain, q
sorry tale would be the story.