The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-01-10
THE NEW PERIL.

1t1E NEW FEklL.
If the United States were not bound to the other civil
lied nations by the strongest Of ties it would wish to be
This nation cannot and viii not live to itself alone 1t
es injurious to nation as to to be pent up and in
difference to wat is going in the outside world may b
as costly war; The part to be played on the worc
stage by the United States splendid inspiring part
but in order to play it wohiy the United States
men and individual Americans must know their role bette
and be better acquainted with the other actors.
Americans have learned mach Of Europe since July
1914 They may easily guage the extent of their forme
ignorance by CHANGING back to that date and recalling
eer ideas Of European governments and their politics
However there much to learn than has been learn
and all Of the knowledge gained will be of direct ben
eft TO this nation and people.
American business men have taken the word of Presi
dent Wilson too literally war thus to end
land have conferred their attention upon the problems
readjusment to peace conditions They nOnpulset
because of the breakdown of much Of the readjusmen
machinery The failure of factors familiar to them to
spond influences that were formerly potent is puz
cling matter The low Of supply and demand does no
seem to work The question Of prices nsoluble Ther
utter confusion on the subject of government
shp and operation of railroads. telegraphs telephones
water-power plants and public utilities generally
Throughout the entire extent of industry and finance
there is a waiting attitude Business confess thai
they do not know what to do. Some Of them imagine that
they are waiting for the peace treaty
Would not assist all Americans to clarity their ideas
ordar thinoc +hov would
recognize two great acts-frst that the United States
bound to the other nations veal and woe and second
that the war not yet over but is merely entering new
phase?
If the war had ended on November 11,1918 asfmary
persons permaurey assumed to be the case many of the
domestic problems Of the United States would have been
nearysoved by this time They are not near solution fol-
the reason that the tie which binds the United States
the other civilized nations compes this country to stand
ready to do its share in any work remang to be done
The doubt surrounding Europes immediate future makes
Americas uncertain and understandable for the
time being.
Only one or two lines Of action clearly revealed to
be expedent and necessary One Of these the exercise
of caution in all kinds Of rehabilitation 1t would be un-
wise to dsmane the United States as war power before
peace has been attained by patent factors known to all
men, If more fighting to come as the only sure meth
cd Of saving civilization the United States will not only
wish to do its share but it may be called upon to do
lions share. Hope leads the mind and heart away from
such prospect but red turmoil in Russia and Germany
cannot be waved aside by merely INDUCING in hope.
The second line of action required by events the i'm
mediate ffenng of American policy and action toward
the bolshevik abroad and at home. The boshev have
declared war America and all the allies and waging
war them. The United States may be compelled to
take up the challenge Until the situation becomes clearer
is obviously prudent keep the boshevh more closely
under surveillance and to apprehend those that are dan
gerous Before this nation went to war agnst Germany
the Germans committed all kinds Of crimes in this country
and most of the criminals went unpublished The att
ude of the toward its secret enemies was
negligent to the point of folly Is negligence to be the
rule now TOWARD the bolsheviki?
True liberty is in peril from a new enemy The ex
tent of the coming struggle cannot be foreseen Amer
connot do otherwise than grid themselves for the
fight whether it is to be short long They will moi
yield their liberty to this foe any more than they
would yield it to the German autocracy The duty Of the
individual business is not to tug impatently for
return of old conditions but resouely to prepare his sp
it and his powers to defend his country against any dan
gers that may with the new condtiOns-Was
ton Post.