Der Nordstern. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1874-1931, 1922-10-26

.Er-e1l j yk0S G3G4M%S%6
is a solemn truth, that after the
roth Century of progress and
plenty, the first quarter st It's sue
cessor has witnessed for the last
three years a real deadly famine
in some Of the most cultured and
progressive countries Of the world,
Germany and Austria. German
Austria, the favored land Of music,
and song, and most charming hos
pitality Germany, the home OF the
chief glories Of modern philoso-
ply, science, poetry and art, as
we'll as the most prosperous and
contended nation of our times,
both suffering the extremes OF
poverty, hunger and cold, and the
diseases that follow in the wake OF
such calamities. It is very strange,
yet stranger still, and more sad
dening to the heart. it is, that the
great mass of humanity passes by
the suffering millions. seemingly
indifferent to the cry for bread OF.
poor, helpless, con6ding children,
millions of them, and the silent. but
most elegant appeals Of their ia
theirs and mothers, OF. OF the con-
secrated men and women who are.
charged with the care Of these lit it
tie ones. How pitiful are the ac-
counts every traveller brings home
from the scenes of desolation, and
how sad, and moving are the suit
ferers' humble words Of heartfelt
thanks for every favor shown
them and their charges. Thousands
and thousands of ladies that once
lived in affluence and wore the or
naments Of society, are glad to re-
ceive a dollar or two from the
charitably disposed, although they
would not ask for the favor. Men
who once held high and response
bic positions in the state, or were
the honored representatives OF art
and science, are reduced to perjury
and pinching want and all through
the blind spirit Of persecution, the.
ignis fatuus Of the Big Four, that
led all Europe into the quagmirees.
of hopeless misery. We Americans
have helped in this work Of deeas-
tation or, at least, consented to It.
Our President was weak enough to
grant all Clemenceaus demands Of
revenge, and to sanction with his
signature the death-Warrant OF
Austria and Germany. Perhaps he
knew not what he was doing; per-
haps the rejection of the treaty OF
Versailles by our Senate rendered
his far-reaching plans for a true ~
reconciliation vain and void. Per
haps his ignorance Of European
conditions made him incapable Of
seeing the true pathway to a Just
and lasting peace. Whatever was
the cause, certain it is, that the
world has seen no peace as yet, al
though the statesmen signed a
document long since that was called
a treaty of peace.
Now, as an inheritance from the
world-war we have a number OF
claims against the Allies, and only
one of these claims seems to bear:
any hope Of ever being met BY pay
ment: that Of England. England
too, is now very kindly disposed
towards her former foes, and has le:
joined the people Of the United
States in mighty efforts to ale
viate the sufferings Of the poor,
famine-stricken peoples Of Ger
many and Austria. England has
repeatedly declared that sllessce et
ed the very idea Of defaultingg on
her debt to us. Now, to quote the
eloquent plea Of the St. Louis
"Censor," for October r.
could we do a grander thing
than to make arrangements with W.T.
England for acknowledgements e
us of $1oo,ooo,ooo, and then, i
necessary, to use the entire amount
for buy ing food supplies TO Be
distributed by the German Red
Cross? The money thus expended
Should not be a donation, but g
legitimate loan to Germany on rea-
sonable terms, to the same Ger
many whose money, loaned to us
in the most critical period OF the