The Washington herald., 1919-08-09
PRODUCTION MUST NOT LESSEN"

n
with very critical and very DIM
cult matters. We should go for
~ard with confidence along the
road we see, but we should also
seek to comprehend the whole
of the scene amidst which we
act. There il mo ground for
some of the fearful forecasts
I hear uttered about me, bat the
condition of the world is un-
questionably very grave and we
should face IL comprehe
The situation of our own coun-
try is exceptionally fortunate.
We. OF all peoples. can afford to
keep our heads and to determine
upon moderate and sensible courses
OF action which will ensure us
against the passions and distempers
which are working such deep un-
happiness for some Of the distressed
nations on the other side of the sea
But we may be involved in their
distress unless we help: and help
with energy and intelligence
The world must pay for the ap-
pallin destruction wrought by the
great war. and We are part OF the
world. We must pay our share. For
| five years now the industry Of all
Europe has been slack and disorder
ed. The normal crops have not been
produced; the normal quantity OF
manufactured goods has not been
| turned out. Not until there are the
usual crops and the usual produc-
tion Of manufactured goods on the
other side OF the Atlantic can Europe
return to the former conditions: and
1t was upon the former conditions.
not the present, that our economic
relations with Europe were built up.
We Must Save Europe Again.
We must face the fact that unless
VIC help Europe to get back TO her
normal life and production a chaos
will ensue there which will inevita-
bly, be communicated to this country.
For the present, II is manifest. we
must quicken, not slacken. our own
production. We. and we almost
alone. now hold the world steady.
Upon our steadfastness and self
possession depend the affairs OF ma
tions everywhere. It is in this su-
preme crisis-this crisis for all man
kind-that America must prove her
mettle. In the presence Of a world
confused, distracted, sne must show
/ herself self-possessed, self-contsin
ed. capable Of sober and effective
action. She saved Europe by her
action in arms; she must now save
/ it by her action in peace. In saving
Europe she will save herself as she
did upon the battlefelds OF the war.
The cslmness and capacity with
which she deals with and masters
the problems OF peace will be the
| final test and proof Of her place
among the peoples Of the world
And. II only in our own interest
we must help the people overseas
Europe is our biggest customer. We
must keep her going or thousands
! Of our shops and scores Of our mines
must close. There is no such thing
as letting her go to ruin without
ourselves sharing in the disaster.
. In such circumstances, face TO face
with such tests, passion must be dis
Icarded.
/ Passion Must BE Discarded.
Passion and n disregard for
the right Of others have nc
place in the counsels of free
people. We need light, not
/ heat, in these solemn times of
seIf-e1amination and saving ac-
tion. There must be no threats.
Let there be only Intelligent
counsel. and let the best reasons
win, not the strongest brute
force. The world has just
destroyed the arbitrary force Of
military tunta. IL will live
under no other. All that j.
arbitrary and coerciye Is in the
discard. Those who seek TO en-
ployi IL only prepare their own
destruction.
We cannot hastily and over night
revolutionize all the processes OF cur
economic life We shall not attempt
to do so. These are days of deep ex-
citement and OF extravagant speech.
| but with US these are things Of the
surface. Every one who is in real
touch with the silent masses Of cur
/ great people knows that the OLD
strong fiber and steady seIf-control
( are still there. firm against violence
or any distemPered action that would
throw their affairs into confusion.
l am seTenely confident that they Will
readily find themselves. no mattel
what the circumstances, and that they
will address themselves to the tasks
Of peace with the same devotion and
( the same sLalwart preference for what
is right that they displayed to the ad-
miration Of the whole world in the
midst OF war
Other Forces TO Count On.
And l entertain another confident
hope. ] have spoken today chiefly OF
7 measures OF imperative regulation ard
legal Compulsion. of prosecutions and
urge sharp correction OF selfish pro-
Cesses, and these, no doubt. are Eeces-
sary. But there are other forces that