The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-03-10

mean to promote enlatged activities
| ana seek expanded confidence.
Perhaps we can make no more help
full contribution by example than a Ne
public's capacity to emerge from the
wreckage Of war. While the worlds
embittered travail did not leave us
, devastated lands nor desolated cities,
left no gaping wounds, no breast filled
with hate, it did involve us In the
delirium of expenditures, in expanded
currency and credits, in unbalanced in
dustry, in ~unspeakable waste and dis
turbed relationships. While 1t uncOv-
cred our portion of hateful SelfishnesS
al home, 1t also revealed the heart OF
America as sound and fearless and
beating in confidence unfailing.
Amid it all we have riveted the gaze
OF all civilization to the unSeltishness
and the righteousness of representative
democracy where our freedom never
has made offensive warfare, never has
sought territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
through force, never has turned to the
arHitrament of arms until reason has
,,,u exhausted. When the govern
mcutS of the earth shall have estab-
lishcd a freedom like our own and
Shall have sanctioned the pursuit OF
peace as we have practiced it. | believe
the last sorrow and the final sacrifice
OF international warfare will have
been written.
Our Supreme Task.
our supreme task Is the resumption
Of our onward, normal way. Recon-
struction, REIMBURSEMENT, restoration
all these must follow. | would like to
add to the resolution with which we
take up the task. Let me repeat for
our nation, we shall give no people
lust cause to make war upon us, we
hold no national prejudices, W. enter
tain no spirit of revenge, we do not
hate, we do not covet, we dream of
no conquest nor boast of armed
prOweSS.
If, despite this attitude, wal Is again
forced upon us, earnestly hope a way
may be found which will unity our in
dividual and collective strength and
cOnSecrate all America, materially and
spiritually, body and soul, to national
defense. / can vision the ideal repub-
lie, where every man and woman Is
called under the flag, for assignment
to duty, for whatever service, military
or civic, the individual is best fitted;
where we may call to universal serv-
ice every plant, agency or facility all
In the sublime sacrifice for country,
and not n penny of wal profit shall
inure to the benefit Of private indi-
vidual, corporation OF combination, but
all above the normal shall flow into
the defense chest of the nation. There
is something inherently wrong, N
thing out of accord with the ideals Of
representative democracy, when n
portion of our citizenship turns its
activities to private gain amid defen-
sive war while another is fighting, sa-
criticing or dying for national preser-
walton.
Unity Of Spirit and Purpose.
Out Of such universal service will
come a new unity Of spirit and pur-
pose, a new confidence and cOnsecra-
ton, which would make our defense
i~mpregnable, our triumph assured. Then
we should have little or no disOrgani-
zatiOn Of our economic, industrial and
commercial systems at home, no stag
gering wal debts, no swollen fortunes
to fiout the sacrifices Of III soldiers,
no excuse for sedition, no pitiable
slackerism, no outrage Of treason.
Envy and jealousy would have no soil
revolution would be without the pas
sion which engenders 1t.
A regret for the mistakes Of yester-
day must not, however, blind us to
the tasks of today. War never left
such an aftermath. There has been
staggering loss Of life, and measure
less ~wasteage of materials. Nations
are still cropping for return to stable
ways. DiscOuraging Indebtedness con-
fronts us like all the war-tOrn ma
lions, and these obligations must be
provided for. No civilization can sur.
vlve Reputation. We can reduce the
abnormal expenditures, and we will.
We can strike at war taxation, and
we must. We must face the grim ne
cessity, with full knowledge that the
task Is to be solved, and we must pro.
coed with a full eralizatiOn that nc
statute enacted by man can repeal the
memorable laws Of nature. Our most
dangerous tendency Is to expect toe
much Of government, and at the same
time do for it too little. We con.
template the immediate task Of put,
ting our public household in order
We need a rigid and yet SAN economy
combined with fiscal justice, and II
must be attended by individual pru,
dence and thrift, which are so essen.
tial to this trying hour, and reassur
ing for the future.
Reflection Of Wars Reaction.
The business world reflects the dis
turbance Of wars reaction. Herein
flows the life blood of material ex
istence. The economic mechanism l!