The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-31
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When Europe found herself plunged into a war that threat
ened all civilization. we went to her rescue to save ourselves
as well as others. We sent over millions OF men and billions OF
dollars to help win the fight The fight was won and peace
declared, Pay day is here for our loans, but Europe has not the
money. and unless we help still further we stand to lose what we
advanced. We must do more financing 50 that Europe may be
able to save herself and pay us. We are in the position OF the
merchant who furnishes or finances a planter through the spring
and summer months, When the crop is made and ready Tor
gathering, the merchant must not abandon the planter, else he
will lose his account He must continue on, and furnish money
TO pay the pickers. ginners and marketing expenses until the
planter is in a position to pay the advances which he has received.
When this is done the debt can be ~jquidated. The planter may
be solvent and the owner o. fine lands, but he has not the money
TO gather his crop and cannot do so unless financed by the
merchant, This country is the merchant and Europe rs the
planter Europe is solvent and potentially able to pay dollar for
dollar on what she owes. She must be enabled to realize on her
possibilities. This, it is estimated, will cost us two billions OF
dollars more, a vast sum for those who are already deeply IN
our debt, but cur leading fnanciers assert that unless we do
this our nine billions will be lost and Europe will be bankrupt
There is nothing for it but for us to furnish the money to tide
these people over their trouble and put them in position to take
care Of themselves, and Of their already existing obligations.
II we are to advance two billions more on top OF what
II already owing us we should have some say in directing how
this money is to be spent. These pauperized people must get to
work and re-establsh their industries and begin producing
wealth.
If they attempt to spend the money in establishing ginger
bread kings and courts and armies with which to rob and harass
each other, our purse strings should be drawn tight, and we
should fpreclose our mortgages, People who will not help them
selves in a rational manner should not look to us to help them,
We seem to be the whole worlds guardian, and humanity is
Il our ward. We can meet and carry the responsibility, Fortu-
NJ nately for the world we are able to do it, but our money is to
~rehabilitate the needy countries along industrial lines, and not
N* 10 spend ana SplurRe II kings anu courts ahu wv hoPP"So ".
Monarchy. Let the kings and queens. the jacks, ten-spots and
deuces 90 to work like other people, They and their parasitic
4 spawn have lived in idlenoss off Of other people for many CEN
8tures, and at this particular crisis they should be given to under
stand that unless they do their share Of the world work they
will be given no part of the worlds food.
We have no right to interfere with other people in the form
of government which they may choose to erect. When we have
to foot the bill we have a right to see that our bounty is not
~squandered on show and seeming or wasted in wars and brolls
Il between little countries that are passing around the hat and
& asking for aims. Two billion dollars is the sum demanded at
the present time, and all the royalty in Europe is not worth {,
fraction of this sum. One factory making goods that the world
needs is worth more to humanity than all the royalsts that
breathe.
Generations will come and go Before this money will be paid
back to us, and it will never be paid back unless we take the
greater part of it in chips and whetsones and such goods as
these countries can make and ship to us.
The Bplshevist, no matter how much he whines, is entitled
10 nothing; ike other people, he. too, must get a move on himself
Eand go to work. He may have been badly treated in the past
and he may. under the terms of rude justice, be entitled tc
revenge, We arc concerned only with the present and the
Afuture. not with the past.
Our own people must be looked after, Ii we must feed and
Finance Europe and the world our own people will get short com
mons. Our first duty is to our own,