The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-06-05
Some Lessons from History
WILLIAM E. FREELAND
The Folly of Laish

tneTe IlVeQ IN tne region u MUuuI
Ephriam about thirty three centuries
ago a people who had become too
proud to fight. Whether they had
once been a race OF virile men become
efieminate we do not know History
is silent regarding them except for the
cynical mockery Of their destroYeTs
who tell the story Of their destruction
with brief and grim irony.
The tribe Of Dan wished an inheri'
tance. Selecting five men Of valoT
they bade them spy out the country
and report what they found. Entering
the house Of Micah these obtained a
blessing from the priest Of the house
hold. Passing on they Came to
Lash, and saw TIE people that were
therein, how they dwelt CARELESS,
after the manner Of the Zidonians,
QUIET AND SECURE" "(the capitals
are mine.) So peace loving were the
men Of Lash that no magistrate was
there who might put them to shame
with puniShments.
The spies returned to Dan with joy
ful ,idings Of the goodness OF the land
and the foolish weakness Of the people
who dwelt there unprepared for war.
They urged their brethren not to be
slothiul in the taking Of the country.
Possibly they feared some other robber
might beat them TO the booty il they
taried. Gathering six hundred men
at arms the spies and their brethren
returned to the house Of Micah who
had lodged them and stole his property
aad prevailed upon the priest to desert
80 they turned and departed and put
the little ones and the cattle and the
carriage before them"
As was natural Micah fastened after
the robbers and protested but was
answered by mockery and bade to
keep silent. And Micah saw that
they we're too strong for him and
turned and went back into his house. "
But ss ws' kindly treatment to that
meted out to the people Of Laish.
After they had left Micah's house
they Came unto Laish, unto a people
that we're quiet and secure AND
THEY SMOTE THEM WITH THE
EDGE OF THE SWORD AMI
BURNT THE CITY WITH FIRE"
(capitals are mine.)
There is a lesson for US today who
have been fed on the nonsense oi
lot Of dreamers who are sincere bu
foolish and the insincere nonsense 0
ambitious autocraiS seeking 10 iurthe
their selfish ambitions by maze o
beautiful words. We have otter
listened OF late years TO the songs o
these two classes 10 our cost. WheI
the storm burst over Europe We wer'
t,ld in the most emphatic languag,
that it was no concern oil ours that tn,
purposes OF the warring nations wer
the same. When it suited the put
pose Of these ambitious ones 10 preacl
Safety first" they loudly proclaimet
that under no circumstances mus
America enter the war. This falls
doctrine was preached al US until tn
kaiser almost won his victory. Hot
close We played with late we even not
hardly realize. The world came to be
lieve Of US as the Daniles believed
Lash, that we were nation To
proud to fight" But our brave LAD
have redeemed US from this sland;
that circulated over parts Of the worl
for years. I have read that in par
OF England during the time whe
Britain was relying upon voluntee
that great posters we're placed in Ii
windows showing Uncle Sam as a 4
and efeminate old man with the word
He is 100 proud 10 fight, are your
John Fiske, Americas greatest hi
tOrian, has said that peace will con
to the world when the physical pow
Of peaceful nations becomes owe
whelming. I would far rather tru
bis discernmtnt than that Of Our ar
bilious politicians seeking 10 create
world kingdom so arranged that scheT
ing and selfish men may seize the rel