Daily Kennebec journal., 1921-10-14
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THOUGHT AND TRUTH


ance in bringing about complete dis
armament were the occasions for two
letters from President Harding which
are we'll worth the consideration of
all heads except such as are ito be
let unfurnished." All heads equipped
for thinking may derive benefit from
both.
In the first he deplores the propa-
sanda habit formed during wars ac-
tivities to good purpose. 'sWe news
raperren could indulge ourselves in
no more grievous error than to as
sumo that propa ganda is the first, or
even a leading, aim of properly
conducted press" he SAYS adding: Il
cannot but feel that the primary pur-
g. pose of the press as a social institu-
ton, is the opening of mems minds,
rather than the closing OF them.
Propaganda aims primarily at shut
ting up the mind against other con-
clusions than those which the prop
agandists design to i1aplant
we have need in these times that
men should think deeply, that they
should realize their necessity Of set
Ting their own problem. The world
has well nigh become a great aggre-
cation of democracies. No denoc-
racy will rise veryvfar above the level
of its average thinking capacity"
All this doesn't appear open to
question from the serious minded.
Accepting his conclusions logic leads
US to- the necessity for putting our
thinking apparatus into shape and
making good use of it if we would
measure up to the requirements of
good Anlericanisrn.
Those who are asking for inlrne-
date complete disarma ment through
out the world are asking all lambs
and lions to lie down together and
all men to put away guile and selfish
ness and assume that because 1t has
been asked of them all men have
complied
1T is necessary to deal with actu-
allties; to do the best possible"
writes the President Universal
disarmament would be beyond hope
OF reallzation even its desirability
at this time might we'll be questioned.
Thousands of years OF history re-
cording the wars and controversies
OF mankind suggest that human ma
ture would require revolutionary re-
organization to make universal dis
armament possible. \ considera ton
OF the present state of the world
must l think, enforce the conclusion
that this is not a hopeful time to un-
oertake that kind Of revolution
On the other hand. a world with
the horrors of recent experiences
scared into its mind, and sta ggering
under the load of debt and arn.a-
rnents' has generously justified our
hope for favorable attitude toward
the practical effort, the sincere be-
ginning, that we are attempting The
nne spirit in which leading nations
nave received the invitation to meet
and consider these things is altogeth-
er- encouraging. To undertake the
impossible and fail might leave our
last state worse than our frst The
attitude of the nations warrants COR
hdence that We will not fail but
rather that substantial results will
be accomplished, calculated to lessen
the armament burden, and to reduce
the danger Of armed conflict. 7 fee,
that in such an effort we are entitled
rf oil
would be glad-as I can assure YOU
would--to see still more accom-,
plished if possible"
Let those who have heads that are
furnished think; to do so is an OBJ
Hgation which naturally accompa mics
the possession of the head. Why
otherwise do we have it? Surely
mot to lose. Those who expect the
world niraculously to become un-
selfish overnight, if able to put their
expectation to application would be
in a fair way to lose their heads,
literally. They belong with those
who went over with Henry Ford to
put an end to the war by simply ask
ing the connba tants to lay down their
arms. The combatants were weary
hut would not listen, being hunna
beings and afraid the other fellow
might change his mind. There are vet
too many people in the world having
heads but not properly using them.
too many who have found it easier tn
y lat others think for them and so have
become incapable of thinking for
themselves, too many people who if
they do think haven't suficient en-
lightenment to think properly or
value the thought of others. They
are naturally suspicious. The pow-
erful' and the wise shetild disarn
that suspicion so far as may be by
denying themselves the power to op-
press, by dealing fairly. by patient
teaching of what fairness really is,
long, long process May a good be-
ginning be made at the arms parley,
and may the matter for thought
thus afforded receive it's due share in
the well ordered thinking of tina
world; for only SO may we arrive at
the truth which shall uake ,,s free