Evening star., 1921-09-11
Getting Back to <''fNormalcy'
Matter of Peace Patriotism

belt the German laborer 10 work.
ing from ten to fourteen hours
at any pay he can obtain for his
labor. Even the benefciaries of
the government are not content
with the allowances and the hos
pitai treatment they are receive
ing. School teachers and minis
ters OF the gospel seem to be the
only persons who have returned
to a normal condition of life and
they, perhaps. were the only per-
sons who did not get out OF a nor
NAL, condition and so did not have
to take. q backward step.
. Let US be perfectly frank with
ourselves. Let us keep and main
tain our political principles as
we will. Let us fume and quarrel
and fight over taxation and ex-
penditures and rehabilitation as
we please. Let US understand that
American politics is, not a pool
which the angel troubles at in
frequent periods. but that it is
ceaseless stormy sea. Let US be-
lieve that the greatest safeguard
OF the liberties of a people is the
constant and never-ending discus
sion of public questions from every
supposable and impossible angle.
Let US not resent the attack and
the defense and the counter attack
in the Congress of the United
States. In my opinion. more good
comes from the Information fur
nished to the people through those
discussions than comes from the
actual enactment Of a statute.
The question confronting the
American people with imperative
necessity for a right answer is
this: "IIave we such faith in our
system Of government as to believe
that It will endureT II we have
that faith. then It is apparent that
it requires of US just as much
loyalty and devotion in these pip
ing times Of peace as 1t did In
the dread hours Of war. Some OF
US are beginning to realize the
necessity Of returning to a state
or normality. Some Of US are con-
vinced that If President Harding
had the idea that the republic was
to be brought back to its ancient
moorings by anything which Off
cialdom could Go he was mistaken.
On the otter hand, we are con-
vinced that "normalcy" can be
achieved by the individual citizen.
1 knew when the war was on
that had not risen to the heights
Of a consecrated American II I
yielded to my own desires when
they ran counter to the good OF
my country or to the interests OF
my fellow citizens. wasted no
time in endeavoring to find out
whether my neighbor was doing
what thought he should do.
left his conduct to the arbitra-
ment of that final court in Ameri-
ca-the court of public opinion. I
could not square my conduct with
my conscience by saying that 9TH
ers were doing this or that.
could not go to a dreamless sleep
without having satisfied myself
that before God and my country
men 1 had done right that day as
saw the right
++*
One of the remarkable things
about a free government such as
ours is the view that there are
only moments far apart when a
man needs to be mindful Of his
country's welfare. Reformation is
Of little moment unless there is a
fixed principle of life back Of it.
1 know my own limitations 80
surely that I have no intention Of
becoming a carping critic. AS I
have worked and played this sum-
mer have thought Of my own
duty. have become convinced
that no mere matter of reforma-
ton will do me any good. What I
need is regeneration. "a rebirth
with each dawning day as citizen
of, a representative democracy, a
reconsecration in the hour of peace
to those ideals of service and sac
rifice which hope actuated me in
the hour Of peace to those ideals
Of service and sacrifice which I
hope actuated me in the hour of
war. 1 want to get back to a nor
NAL condition of life. think
there will be no peace in the re-
public until we all get back. To
attain unto that end service and
sacrifice are needed, and love and
labor.
Let US keep up our politics, but
let us not forget our patriotism.
Bromo seltzer is for the morning
after. Our drunk. in which we
spent twenty-five billions of bor-
rowed money, is over. We must
get to work and pay for it. Paid
1t will be, one way or another,
but it will be paid more quickly
and with a warmer glow at our
hearts IL we shall realize that la
Dor and economy. justice and fair
dealing toward our fellow men are
as sure signs of patriotism in the
hour of peace as the sacrifice Of
our blood and treasure can hope
to be in the hour of war. When
back to "normalcy," the country
will become normal, and not until
then.
.(Copyright, 1921, by Thomas r. MarshalI.)
r. A