Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-20

surprising that taxes have advanced
per family of five in our country
from $33 in 1913 to 1914 in 1921?
Culture at best is but gossamer
thread holding the natiSns in equi-
libriun1. Do we yealize how severely
it was strained by the circumstances
portrayed above; how nearly it came
to the breaking point? Do we full
ly appreciate the fact that we stood
On the very edge of the precipice
overlooking the kingdom beyond the
StyX; that the world was within an
inch of passing over this river OF
retribution and into the very con-
fines of Hades itself? This should
help us to understand and appreciate
the dread nature of the terrorism
through which we have just passed,
and the difficulties we are now ex-
periencing in adjusting ourselves to
conditions so new and so radical in
many respects. 1t should make us
conscious of the fact that we who
escaped the supreme sacrifice of our
lives should face the economic de-
preston and the suffering and the
ills Of the moment with equanimity.
that we should be willing to devote
our lives to the cause of building
back a greater, finer and better
civilization than ever existed in the
world before. If we do this, the fu-
ture is assured. There will again
be unity of purpose and supreme
happiness in our hearts. Let us re-
place the universal revilement which
individuals and nations are heaping
oil inc
love. If we institute this policy the
evils of the moment will disappear
and we will again become that
united, happy and progressive unit
among the family Of nations which
God intended us to be. If we neglect
the duty and responsibility which
has been placed upon us at this
time, then no man can view the
future with fortltude.
have painted this picture as best
could that we may realize and APP
preciate as quickly and as complete
1y as possible the retribuiive justice
which will fall TO our portion IL we
fail to meet the emergency by
which We are now confronted. 1t is
the chaotic condition brought about
by the World war from which we
are all suffering at present. Each
one must bear his share of the bur-
den. 1t cannot be escaped. Those
who are respondent and shirkerS at
best but complicate the difficulties
of the existing situation. 1t is day
and an hour for the exercise OF the
saving grace which alone can pre-
vent a reoccurrence Of the fright
full orgies through which we have
passed, We stand as yet upon the
trembling quickSands. Let us hasten
through an exhaltation Of service to
get back on a solid and enduring
foundation. God will lead us back
Just as certainly as He brought the
children of Israel out of slavery and
bondage, provided we are willing to
forsake the selfish idols of MamE1on
which are now so generally beclcud-
ing our vision, and look to Him for
the essential leadership through
which alone the culture of the world
can be saved.
In this connection, permit me to
point out that we are now a part
of the whole cosmos. 1t is utterly
impossible for us to isolate ourselves
and to pretend that we are sep
arate entity and not concerned about
the balance of society, or the wei;
fare, happiness and progress OF ma
tions separated from US by great
oceans. The very fact that we have
become so essentially an Industrial
nation, and that our commerce is
knocking at the door Of every world
seaport of Importance demonstrates
beyond the question Of doubt the
fact that we are of the world and
concerned with everything that af-
fects it's progress and success.
Whether we will it or not, we must
become a part of that great national
cooperative unit that must Of ne
cessity be formed out of the nations
of the earth in some manner or form
in order that the golden rule may
continue to live and the peoples Of
the earth fulfill their destiny.
Of course, prices for our farm
crops were unfavorably affected by
foreign exchange. The poverty and
restricted purchasing power abroad
exerted a paralyzing influence in
many respects upon our agriculture.
Our normal trade activities have been
slowed up by frozen home and for
eign credits, and this condition will
continue until some rational adjust
ment Of world commerce and for
eign exchange is brought about. In.
ternational trade can never be pro-
NOTED successfully by discounting
the other fellows money on basis
that is little short of confiscation in
some instances. Conditions such as
these were bound to produce the
crisis of our agriculture about which
our producers are complaining so bit
terly at the present time. I, fear,
however, that we have too long and
too generally overlooked the fact