San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-18
MR.. FTNNIGAN EXPLAINS.
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
D'yex moind me saying a few words
to the loikes of those who have been
jumping on me because have had the
temerity and audacity to say what l
thought in the worthy columns of the
San Antonio Light?
In your issue of February II the
gintleman who has been having a row
with r. Collins tells about me say
ing I'VE were bamboozled, deceived
and whst.not into going into the last
war because England wanted US to
fight the battle for her." These were
not my words, but they expressed my
idea, and that's the main thing, so
we will let it go at that. The gintle-
man goes to say Il certainly resent the
insinuation that one hundred million
people could be fooled by any one ma
ton as to do what was stated"
b Now right here, mister, / want to
show this gintleman how one hundred
million---aye, ten hundred million peo-
pie, il you like--can be fooled, and
how they are being fooled every day.
Now listen. In the first place these
people read the newspapers and in the
second place they believe everything
they read in the newspapers. What
mean by "the newspapers" are such as
the New York World, New York
Herald, New York Times, Chicago
Tribune, Philadelphia Ledger and
others / could mention. These pa
pers get hold OF an idea and pass it
around by way of the Associated Press
,e NJ -, hn all
throughout the country. They find
some "big man" who is in accord with
their idea" and he makes a speech be-
fore some notable gathering at ban
quet, say in New York. This speech
is sent out over the country through
the newspapers. The newspapers COM
ment on the speech and endorse it. 1t
is the keynote for the big interests"
but it is put before the people as a
patriotic utterance." The people
the. "suckers"--they gulp it down.
More speeches follow and likewise more
newspaper editorials on patriotism"
The people swallow it-bait, hook and
line-and there you are. That is how
one hundred million people in these
United States were "banboozled" into
the war.
OF course you could not make any
one with British inclinations believe
this, but the truth is dnwrring clearer
every day. / have always said and
repeat that We had no business TO 60
into the war, and we would not have
to isolate ourselves at that. But you
could not make anyone with British
inclinations believe that. 1t was the
British hatred for the Damned
Dootch" that caused us to go into the
war and also to help gallant "Frswnee"
to get a slice Of Germany. Now don't
get me wrong. 1, have no love for the
Germans or the Damned DOotch."
They are no better than the rest OF
the European crowd. Every European
country or nation belongs IN the same
category. am for the good old Stars
and Stripes and would give my last
drop of blood for the U. s. A. in a
stand against the world. But / am
too good an American to wink at truth
and honesty, and / despise deceit and
hypocrisy. l would rather stand with
the minority and be right than with
the majority and have might. ] would
rather die for q principle than live for
lie. Il uln IOE my COuuNlSs NC ohc
right or wrong, but when she is
wrong / believe in setting her right.
What we need in this country are
newspapers with the best interests
Of the masses at heart-and not the
classes. The newspapers are the rich
mans friend. They have no use for
the poor mantle workingman. One
writer in The Light last Sunday said
I'VE need the spirit of Jesus Christ
and he was right. want to hand it
to that Jewish rabbi who was reported
in The Light last Sunday in his talk
us San Antonio in America" He
told the truth when he said The dan
ger is all the greater because you can
see where men stand geographically
but you cannot see where they stand
spiritually" -,
When we get the right spirit we will
have q perfect world, but about that
time a comet or something will hit the
old mud ball and we will all go up to
glory together, and Old st. Peter Will
not ask whether we were Jew, Catho-
lie or Baptist or French, English or
German, white, black or yellow, rich
or poor. We will all have front seats
on the Golden Shore in the Sweet Bye
and Bye. And this may happen soon.
err than we expect. Then we will all
be good. NJ. J. FlNNlGAN.