The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-16
A Land Worth Retaining.

The war brought many satisfactions
caused by the breaking of the power Of
the Turk over subject races. This is
broken beyond repair. Civilization would
never stand for its rehabilitation. No
peace conferees could ever look their
own peoples in the face again were they
to reach an agreement that would re-
store the suzerainty of Turkey over the
Near East. Christendom has simply tax
en- for granted that states are to be
erected by liberated peoples in Syria, Ar
menia and Mesopotamia, for example,
and that in the course of time great pop
ulations will thrive there, getting their
own sustenance there, and also the
things of a world. wide commerce.
But in the meantime-Ah, there is
somewhat of a problem at this point
There are no states there now that can
begin or resume business as going con
Germs, nor are there peoples equipped for
even building, let alone state
building. Given over to the sword and
worse than the sword, the peoples OF the
Near East are scattered, hungry, naked,
distraught--milhons Of them. Driven
into the deserts, delivered over to the
slave dealer robbed, tortured, outraged
in every way conceivable by the brute
that is in brutal man, the survivors of
the Turkish terror, victims of torments
such as those of the Belgians multiplied
indefinitely, face the problem of resum.
ing life's activities with little more to
start on than their bodies, and the love
Of liberty that is in their souls.
SO il isn't enough that we are salts
fed with the breaking Of the power of
the Turk. To stop here would be a
mockery, Satisfaction must be expressed
in terms Of practical helpfulness for the
liberated. It is up TO comfortable Amer
lea TO greet the new free of the Near
East with the substantial evidences of
welcome into the sisterhood of nations
food and clothing, implements Of agriCul-
ture, expert leadership in resources de
velopment, in sum, the things that shall
enable these peoples TO set up in bust
ness, and get into trade relations with
the world.
In time-and the time viii not be long
the fertile soil, the unfailing streams,
the treasure mountains of the
Near East win maintain millions of the
.resouceful, enterprising people Of the
soil But in the meantime these people
have got to have a bit of help.
This is why the American committee
on Armenian and Syrian relief, backed
by the American government, is asking
us to contribute Of our means in the
week of Jan, II, 1t is that we may help
these people help themselves-that we
may help in the raising of the standards
Of freedom over new states, by helping
free peoples get grip on life--it is that
we may help restore the waste places
and add to world wealth in which all
Of us will share in the long run, by
helping an industrious people to make
a garden out of the Near East
1t is worth while Germany wanted
this vast area--wanted it badly enough
TO aid and abet the Turk in Kidding it Of
its native populations in order that it
might be peopled by middle Europeans.
1t is land worth redeeming. The peo-
pie of the soil can redeem it with bit
Of assistance, and those who help will
share in the blessings of its redemption
Manchester Union.