Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-07-31
A STATE OF MIND.

When the armistice was signed the
United States was the greatest mill
tary power in the world. Never before
had such moral financial and physical
energy been developed in war. Vic
tory had been achieved and peace
based upon American conceptions OF
Justice was fOreshadowed. Yet ma
tional discomfort began in the very
hour of triumph.
The United States had the respect
of all nations for its leadership as well
as for it's might 1t was in a position
to dominate the earth unSelfishly, to
impress its liberal and progressive
principles upon mankind and to guide
long-misgoverned peoples out of the
old abyss of intrigue and strife into
a new and finer relationship. Yet even
the processing millenniumites and
other perfectionist impraticables
voiced their discomfort as loudly as
any of the Bourbons who had been
overthrown.
Never before has any nation had
the wealth possessed today by the
United States. In spite of some glar-
ing inequalities, there never was a
time in all the past when riches, lux
uries and pleasures were so well dis
tributed. Labor, fully employed, re-
ceives the highest wages ever known.
The rewards of capital are unex-
ampled. Agriculture is blessed with
rich harvests and finds eager markets
at high prices Notwithstanding popu-
lar extravaganza without precedent,
savings banks are glutted and life in
surance is making figures beyond the
dreams Of it's founders. Yet labor,
capital manufacturing, merchandising,
agriculture and even the speculator
who trades upon uncertainty are alike
discontinued and full of direful fore
holdings.
Having mastered the earth intellec-
tually and materially, the United
States is not now looking for new
worlds to conquer. 1t is quarrelling
over the spoils, finding fault with
everything that has been done, COM
planning, pickering, ready to believe
the worst of the government under
which these miracles were wrought,
suspicious of every new idea, doubtful
of the value of the victory gained at
such cost, inclined to reproach the
army and navy, and forgetful of the
tens of thousands Of brave men who
died with unfaltering faith in an ideal.
Is it at all wonderful that demagogues
and agitatorS. some of them inspired
abroad, should take advantage of such
a situation? Are we to marvel that
reactionary politicians find in this
state of affairs an opportunity to sub
ordinate and to sacrifice honor and
peace in order to gain the Presidency?
In their present frame of mind the
American people are not quite capable
of passing intelligently upon the
League of Nations or any other pro-
pOSal for human betterment requiring
farsighted courage and mselfishness
for its adoption. They are sitting by
the flesh-pots. They are wailing out
distress which is spectacular and
unreal They are deluding themselves
with dangers that do not exist and
they are fighting small but disquieting
battles that are a reprOach to them
and a mystery to their neighbors. To
be true Americans again they must
put aside all the meannesses which
have enthralled them of late. If they
cannot in this emergency revive the
spirit that never has failed to make
them invincible, the moral decline of
the Republic will begin with that fate
full failure
Our discontents heretofore have
been those of ambition and progress.
The discomfort of this day is of greed,
ingratitude, indulgence and perfidy.-
New York World.