The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-11-11
ARMISTICE DAY.

As the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice comes around
once more and as one looks the country and the world over in the
light of criticism one is inclined to ask, "Was it all worth while? 20
The peace that was promised and was hoped for has not come
to the world. War is not abolished but RACES in several sections of
Eastern Europe. Upset nations are being left to struggle and
grope their way INTO the light. New nations are SquabbHmg and dis
putting over boundaries and invading disputed territory. Famine
stalks gamty through many lands and disease claims its victims
by thousands. While the clash Of arms is not so deafening and
cannons do not roar so loudly there has been no abatement in com
mercial strife. For the trade of the world nations are still at each
others threats. The brotherhood of nations was but a passing
dream, it would seem.
At home we have an army of unemployed that numbers 5000,
600 of whom nearly a million are said to have been service men in
the war, Industries are shut down or slowed down. Manufacture
and the railroads demand reductions in the wages they must pay
before they will reduce prices and labor demands that it's pay shall
be kept up until living costs shall be reduced. Longer hours at
less pay are demanded of the workers, they see that which they
gained during the war days slipping from them. Then every in
ducement was held out to the country to produce while row each
strives to make the other reduce. The pursuit of the almighty dol
lar was never more hot. never was there a more eager grabbing for
gold than today.
Both at home and abroad, it is alleged that crime and immor-
aHtv are epidemic. but immortality and mhonestv would be better
words. Crimes against wOmanhood are more frequent, crimes of
violence have increased. What was frowned upon by society, the
social organization is meant, once is now permitted and even rev.
eRd in. There has come a distinct letting down of standards.
Had America not been told it was aiding in fighting the battles
of humanity, that the struggle was to make the world safe for
there would not have been the cheerful response to the draft call
sons, and husbands and fathers would not have been hidden to go
forth as they were by loving mothers, wives, sweethearts and sis
tiers There would not have been the willing sacrifices in food
saving and other economies practiced all over the land if it had
been said that America entered the war because she was affronted.
because her trade and commerce was interfered with by the German
submarine policy and because America might come next in line of
conquest were imperialism victorious. But a hall hearted response
would have come to such a call.
In the days since the signing of the armstce there has come
a breaking down and a SCATTERING Of ideals. Arruism lies helpless
in the dust and the world perceives the millennium is far, far away.
If crimes of violence have increased, if there has been a breaking
down OF morality and OF honesty, the cause to be found i'll the loss
OF the high ideals that were presented in the war days.
However, beautiful ideals and splendid dreams are not all that
have been shattered by the awakening that has come during the
three years that have followed the armistice. During the war and
since much that was false in standards and conceptions was dis
covered. Civilization and the social organism came to be viewed
from different view points from the past and under new lights.
There has come a broader and a clearer knowledge of life and
relationships, recognition OF far reaching truths, and thought has
been given to subjects not previously considered. New attitudes
have arisen, the very difference in which often leads those who still
cling to the old to condemn the new as wrong.
The fact that the broken ideals, the vanished dreams were
cherished for a time has left a discomfort and a dissatisfaction with
old conditions and with those of the present, a longing for some
thing new that can only be satisfied by something larger and some
thing better, something that will at least approach the hopes of
the war days. There can never be a return to old and narrow
viewpoints. True there is a tendency to ignore the ethical for the
essentially practical. True there would be no conference for the
limitation of ornaments were it not that commerce and industry
have come to a recognition of the cost of war to themselves and that
the fruits thereof are smaller than such costs warrant, but out
of the practical will again arise the ethical, though in The shape of
a considerably different code. Truth may be clouded for a time
but it will emerge in the end clear and recognizable.
To ordinary vision only the surface appears and the surface
OF LIES stream today appears foul and muddied. Deep down in
the depths, however, the stream is flowing clear, pure and clean,
flowing on, and ever out on into the sea of infnity. The befouled
surface will arouse a disgust with the conditions of today, the raising
of new ideals, perhaps easier of realization, and those again unto
ideals still higher and more beautiful.
The world is better for the great war, not worse. The struggle
of Americas manhood was worth while, the part they played was
glorious though not just in the way they expected. They have
assisted in the bringing about of new conditions which are now
only in the formulative state. All they hoped for was not achieved,
it is true. Granted that it may appear to some that little worth
while has resulted. Yet the change was made, yet the foundation
for a better and a cleaner civilization was laid. The participation
of America has not been all in vain and in days to come this will
grow more and more apparent.