The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-02-27
Some Lessons from History
WILLIAM +. FREELAND
lest We Forget"

that sound pleasant IN onr ears rather
than to turn our attan'ioG 10 th- stern
call of duty. Ii is one Of ,ocs4 iur-r-
ent weaknesses Of human character
that we are inclined u read into =
thing the meaning that We wish it 10
have rather than the cold hard tc
For all the centuries this weaknes,
has been used by skilliul demagogues
to further their own selfish ambition.
The pathway Of history is marked by
the wreck OF nations who turned an
attentive ear to the voices Of skillIul
pleaders who offered them an easy and
comfortable life merely in return for a
grant Of power.
When Philip of Macedon had de-
stroyed the League Of Nl!ions"(2)
which the unmatched eloquence oil
Demosthenes had builded to stay the
might Of the conqueror he proposed to
embark on an eastern conquest that ap-
pealed to the pride and prejudice Of
all Greece. 1t is reported that before
Philip undertook the preparation for
the expedition to invade Asia that, as
was the custom Of Greeks about to en-
bark on a great venture he consulted
the oracle. Let US remember that the
oracle was all powerful in Greece and
never went wrong. The reason was
simple, it spoke in language that it |
could interpret to its liking, Hear its
reputed answer to Philip; The victim
Is already crowned, and the end draws
nigh, it will soon be sacrificed"
These we're joyous words to the ears Of
his ambition. He went away confident
that he had a message from the gods
that the Persians were 10 be the vic
tins Of the leagued people Of Hellas,
Shortly after, just on the eve Of his de-
parture, he was assassinated. The or
acle had spoken truly, the victim was
dead. Had the outcome been as he
expected, it would likewise have laid
claim to iniallible prophecy, the victim
would have been sacrificed.
Or late years America has been treat
ed to much the same kind Of leader.
ship as that offered by The old Greek
priests who spoke in oracles. 1t is
interesting now to 60 back and study
what fools these priests made Of their
deluded devotees and if we continue
to listen TO the twittering nonsense
some future people may look back up
on US with the same amused impatience
for our foolishness. For years we have
been fed on oracuar nonsense. Whee
we interpreted it in way a common
sense man would interpret it we found
those who had spoken the nonsense
solemnly advising US that we had not
read the meaning rightly, that it meant
just the opposite Of what we had sup
posed. And il occasion arose the
speakers did not hesitate to tell US We
had not rightly interpreted the expla
nation. 1t would be disgusting il it
were not fraught with such terrible
possibilities. For years now the stern
voice Of Col. Roosevelt has been our
greatest safety. He has gone, We
must face the danger without bis wise
counsel but the words he spoke live
still. 1t is sale 10 have nothing to do
with a specious leadership that deals
in crszs guilt PATCHWORK, claiming ii is
a studied and carefully wrought
out design. The makers Of i; seek to
bemuddle Us with glow Of colors tha,
may be pleasing TO the eye but that
has no ordered purpose except 10 de-
ceiye. /
Just now we are being reealed with
the notion that there has been created
a League Of Nations that is TO save US
from al! our ills. We are advised that
it is a great new discovery that men
have been groping Tor during the gene
ra,ions and at last have found. Some
Of the glowing pictures remind US Of
the patent medicine advertisements Of
our childhood, Just take a spoonful
after meals AID sll aches ard pains are
gone. 1t is so simple.