Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-07

I1mc Tor CalmneSS and Sound Thinking
THIS is time for national introspection. a
time for national sound and sober think
ing, time for individual sanity and re-
franment from unbridled thoughts. words
and actions. Unsound thinking or care
less conduct might lead to untoward Conse-
quences which d few weeks ago would have
seemed impossible. While it is true that no
one expects otherwise than that the sane.
sturdy, iherty-loving American people will
work themselves out OF their present dis
turbed conditions which seem to portend a
crisis. yet 1T is on their sanity that the
future depends 1t must not be upset by
unbalanced persons or treacherous agitators
who find the prevailing turbulence to their
liking Whenever and wherever they are
found they must be suppressed, forciby if
necessary, for America now is place for
any leader who at heart is not soundy Amer;-
can.
Causes of the nations troubles are mani
fold. None of them is insurmountable, and
none, taken singly. is more serious or men
acing than Others that have been dealt with
successfully over and over again in the past.
But. taken altogether, they have formed a
combination that will require more serious
thought and more efficient handling than the
national leaders ever before have been called
on TO give to purely domestic problems And
yet, the present popular tumult might have
been expected. in fact it was expected by
many, as one OF the results of the war 1t is
idle now TO accuse Congress- and say that it
might have been averted by wise consdera-
ton and deliberate legislation during the
early days Of the reconstruction period The
water Of those days has gone over the dam
and cannot be recalled The questions now
are of the vital present, and on how Congress
meets them may depend the success or fail
ure OF this democratic form of government
reasons for the popular manifestations
are not dlfhcult to find. There are no mys-
ferrous underlying causes to be sought and
removed Those things that have upset the
America equilibrium are above the surface
and easily discernibe National nervous re-
action following the war, the vicious circle
OF the high cost OF living, and the reiterated
demands for higher wages, money imitation,
the Arrangement of personal liberties by con-
stitutional amendment, the failure of Con-
gresS TO give, even TO attempt to give
measure Of relief, the fundamentals on
which the structure OF dissatisfaction has
been builded to its towering height 1t is
not the long-predicted conflict between CAPT
tai and labor; it is merely the articulate cry
of humanity asking for the right to live in
peace and comfort and that cry must be
needed
Arbitrary demands on the part of any
organization, no matter how strong it may
be, will avail nothing; hundreds of thousands
OF men throwing down their tools in protest
VIII only add to the dangers of the situation,
for the American people will not be bull
doEed, but these outbursts already have
served a good purpose in centering the pub
lie mind on the domestic problem which so
long has been diverted to other things and
now with undivided attention on its own
needs and with patience little while longer
e1erted, the nation may be expected conf
IDENTITY to ia Ike that calm united action which
will bring the relief so sorely needed to re-
store the national balance