Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1919-08-21
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

is found in its latter part beginning this way:
There is no ground for some of the fearful
forecasts hear uttered about me, but the condl-
ton of the world is unuestionably very grave
and we should face it cOmprehendlngly me
situation of OUR OWN country is EXCEPIlON-
ALLY FORTUNATE. We, OF all peoples can
afford to keep our heads, and to determine upon
moderate and sensible courses OF action winch
: will assure us against the passions and dlstem-
pers that are working such deep unhapplness Tor
some of the distressed nations On the Other size
of the sea But we may be involved in their dis
tresses unless we help, and help with energy and
intelligence.
The main thought in this is true and sound. Despite
the fact that recrimnaton rises from every region and
industry interrupted and again by controversy and
quarrel even by strikes that spring up as rany as weeds
in an Intended gardenst we find no sign OF the tunda
mental grounds for the commercial despair industrial up
heava and social sickness that have plunged millions OF
our fellows of Europe into hungry anarchc strife among
themselves and have threatened the same disorder TO
other millions yet There need for such distress sucn
agony the United States unless indeed we want 1t and
court it.
The colossal distinctions of the great have i'm
posed on us Americans of all other peoples tremendous
debt We it to ourselves and our children not less
than to humanity at large to restrain every Inconsistency
selfish unreasonable impulse in ali our relations with
each other Here and is need for all the selfcontro
all the moderation we can apply If take this need to
heart the United States will preserve It's great reservoirs
of strength and power and ultimately right the rest OF the
world
What though costs are high and injustice show itself
here and there, and eXasperaOns sharpen, we are still
relatively unscathed The sources Of our vast wealth are
untouched and fertile as ever to the productive nands OF
men, Our fields forests and Mines foundres, fac
tories and mills our rivers, railroads. ships and ship
yards are safe These great bhplaces Of the basic ne
cesses of life in many parts Of middle and northern
Europe ravaged shattered chOked beret OF material ana
workers. worn out, seized, sunk, or dismantled.
There reason and excuse for the tremendous TRACE
dies in Russia and Hungary There would be neither rea-
son nor excuse for such outcome in America There
is wonderful courage and intelligence in the way the bat
tered and shattered Germans and Austrans have held
themselves together in something approaching an orderly
and efficient state There would be neither the one nor
the other in u.s. if we failed to do far morenothng but
the humiliation of noble opportunity lost and easy enter
prise surrendered
When, from out our security, from our surplus OF
happy fortune look at the distress of ravaged France
of exhausted Italy, of broken England drained Of their
best blood sho not alone Of all their surplus but OF their
current supplies well their empty treasures touch
ing the limits of their credit their industries starving for
material, manpower and buying pOwer-When we see
these peoples keeping high hearts amid the clash and din
of every mad and painful clan and faction aroused by
the burning and gnaWing Of actual need, holding
their heads above the flood tide of the msfOrnes and
passions born of great devastaton-When we look at that
picture it is hard to bear patiently the misguided words
of weak and mistaken who talk amid peace and
plenty in the face of rich opportunities for and
vet more who talk of letting go the life rope the Storm
of forsakng the pumps before the ship has even begun
to founder Contempt is the emotion that must arise in
every intelligent and loyal mind.
There is no occasion for talk of surenderng to stag
nation Of inviting social shipwreck and political anarchy,
OF counting long submerOn to abysma savagefy unless
indeed, you want it. Who does? Then Heedlessness,
Careessnes Ignorance, Lack of Intelligence are behind
such counsels This is no time for their advice.
Prices high? So are wages Think of the $50
shoes and $50 coal in Italy and NO WAGES at all in
many lines for lack of materials Think OF the kindred
conditions prevailing all over Europe and look again at
our own
The United States has dozen jobs for every man
and woman willing to work. TIE material for industry
is at their hand The market for the production world
wide and clamorous.
If prices are high lower them as far as the funda
mental factors of demand and inflated cur
rency will permit as far the suppression and punish
ment of plain profiteering will aid But do deliber
ord without