The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-25
WAR STILL GOING ON

The world war is over, we are told, but there are still twenty
three wars under way. OF these the Poles are most beset; they
are fighting the Ruthenians, the Ukrainians, the Germans, the
Boshevid. Greeks are fighting Turks several countries are tight
ing the Bolsheviki. The Austrians are fighting the ~JugoSlavs; SO
are the Italians. Bulgaria has a civil war, In fact, there is scarce
ly any part of Europe that is not disturbed, which means that
production is interfered with, food stocks are being consumed and
starvation conironts millions. At this conjuncture all eyes are
turned toward America. Uncle Sam, by universal consent, has
been chosen the worlds grand almoner. We must feed Europe
out of our abundance. We must do this in self defense. She owes
us much already which she cannot pay, unless we put her on her
feet and in d position to produce goods with which to supply her
own necessities. The people must be given an opportunity to
work. They are willing, but have neither food nor raw materials.
These must be supplied them. They are in a bad way. Little
Serbia lost 20 per cent Of her people by the war. Her lands are
desolated. Her people are without food or shelter. Rumania
and Pol@nd are in distress and must be fed or permitted to starve
and die Of plague, which follows in the footsteps Of hunger every
where. Northern France and Beloum need our assistance, and
the demands are so many and so enormous as to be staggering,
and so insistent that they cannot be ignored. We CAP do much,
but maybe not enough when the whole world is ahungering. We
have property a~ggregating between $50 and 800 billions, and our
1918 crops are valued at $2l,00O000Oo Our crops for 1919 are
estimated at one billion more. Much OF these can go to Europe,
but not all, We have 100000 people at home who must be
taken care Of. 1t will not do to starve or stint our own. Our
people must be kept at work in order to supply the world with
manufactured goods. Great manufacturing nations like France,
Germany, Belgium and England, to a large extent, have been put
out OF business. In SONG of these countries the factories have
been destroyed, and the mines flooded. In others they are merely
idle, and must remain so unit. industry can be organized, food
and raw materials provided, that the work of production and
manufacturing can go forward. This will take time. Meantime,
the burden falls on this country, the only country in the world
where exports increased during the war. While in no sense
q pTOIlSCI. pdiH pIuHlCu ny III Val. NG WSTC Sdlcu upon
to supply the world, and to do for ourselves what other nations
in a large measure used to do for us, We were put upon our
mettle, and we did not fail.
As International Good Samaritan we have driven off the
thieves, but the victim still lies on the ground bleeding, and will
die il we do not stanch his wounds and succor him
The work which this country is called upon to do is enormous
No other country in history was ever confronted with such a task
We must feed Europe and supply her with raw materials ant
machinery, lest she perish. This young giant Of the West must
bear the enormous burden. What European countries can ac
complish viii only be help. The chief task is ours, We are our
brothers, keeper all over the world. and especially in Western
Europe. That we will profit by it goes without the saving. W.
will and should. We must not only furnish stricken Europe the
goods, but the money to pay for them, until she gets on her feet
Riches will not destroy us, because we are usedr 10 them. This
country has long been rich, and is in good moral and physica
health.
The civilized countries OF Europe will recover. Americans
demand comforts and Injuries. The European is content with
full dinner pail, a place to sleep and shelter against the elements
The little wars that are going on. though numerous, mus
come to an end. They are too trfhng to last.
The world must right itself sooner or later, and Our part ii
the righting is an immense one.