Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-07-30
A State Of Mind
New York World

When the arrnistice was signed the
limited States was the greatest military
newer in the world Never before had
such moral. financial and physical energy
been devcloped IN war Victory had been
achieved and peace based upon AnerI-
can conceptions of justice was iore-
shadowcd Yet national discomfort began
in the very hour Of triumph,
The United States had the respect Oh
al nations for its leadership as well as LOT
It's might Ii was in position TO dominate
the earth unselhshly, to impress It's uperai
a nd progressive principles upon mankind
and TO guide long-misgoverned peoples
out of the old abyss of intrigue and str1e
into a new and finer relationship. let
even the protesting mllleniumTtes ana
other perfectioniN impractlcables Voiced
their discomfort as loudly as any OF tue
Bollrbons who had been overthrow.
Never before has any naIlon had the
wealth possessed today by the United
Stat : In spite Of some glaring inequall-
nos there never was a time in all the past
whom riches. Inquiries and pleasures were
60 well distributed Labor, fully en-
ploved. receives the highest wages ever
known. The rewards Of capital are I'M
erampled. Agriculture Is blessed with
rich harvests and finds eager markets at
high prices. Notwithstanding popular
extravaganza without precedent, savings
banks are glutted and life insurance rs
making figures beyond the dreams OF Its
founders. Yet labor, capital, manufac-
turing. merchandising, agriculture and
even the speculatOT who trades upon ui ,,
certainty are alike dlscontented ana luii
OF direful forebodings.
Having mastered the earth intel
lectually and materially, the United
States is not now looking for new worlds
to conquer. II Is quaTellng over the
spiols. finding fault with everything that
has been done, complaining, pickering
ready to believe the worst OF the govern
ment under which these miracles were
wrought, suspicious Of every new loeat
doubtful of the value of the victory
Gained nj such cost, inclined TO reproach
the army and navy, and forgetful OF the
tens OF thousands Of brave men who died
with InfalteIing faith in an ideal. lis u
AT all wonderful that demagogues and
agitators. some of them inspired abroad
should take advantage of such situation
Are we to marvel that reactionary pohtl-
clans find In this state of affairs an oppor'
tlInity TO subordinate and to sacrifice
honor and peace III order to gain The
Presidency? !,
In their present frame Of mind the
American people are not quite capable Of
passing intelhgently upon the League OF
Nations or any other proposal for human
betterment requiring far-sigbted courage
and unselfshness for its adoption; They
are sitting by the fesh-pots. They are
| wailing out q 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 American
again they must put aside all the mean
nesses which have enthralled them OF late
| If they cannot in this emergency reviv'
| the spirit that never has failed to maxi
them invincible, the moral decline Of tn
Republic will begin with that fatefu
failure.
Our discontents heretofore have bee
those Of ambition and progress. The dis
content Of this day is of greed, ingrati
| tude, indulgence and perfidy.