Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-05
"There is nothing more frightful
than an active ignorance."-Goethe.
STORING EXPLOSIVES

Storage of explosives is assumed
to be regulated by law and ordi-
nance, yet it Is going on all about us
while We appear oblivious of the
danger accumlating under foot. only
awaiting the inevitable spark to set
1t off.
We refer to the kind Of explosives,
the finder which goes to make the
great fire that a little matter
kindleth, about which a correspon-
dent contributes his thoughts in our
Letter Box. He has in mind, it
seems, that lying all about the world
are accommodating explosives of un-
rest, jealousy, greed. individual and
national. lack Of faith, lack Of sta
bility, lack Of understanding, lack of
mental balance.
But sparks, though We guard
against them, the little matter which
kindleth the great confagration,
will occur sometime. Therefore it
would seem we must have fewer ex-
plosives. have these strictly guard
ed, il we would escape the explosion.
And this is just what we are not
doing as we should.
History tells us that given certain
conditions the explosion surely oc-
ours, and common sense tells us that
prevention of the accumulation of
explosives is the rational remedy.
In mans affairs, as in the physical
being of man himself, the preven-
ton of the accumulation of the poi
sonous toxins makes for health and
longevity. That requires restraint,
sacrifice of self indulgence. efforts
which most of us find burdensome,
unless we have become habituated
to the daily dozen" or something
sacrifice of self indulgence, efforts
JOY the effort. 1t may be assumed
such fortunate individuals are COM
paratively few, where they should be
many.
The good machinist keeps his ma
chine fabricated. inspects it thor
oughly. sees that it is in repair and
so gets the most out of it. Very
likely he doesn't treat his own
physical or mental machine with like
care and attention, though that be
something Of greater Importance. to
the man at least, or to a community
made up of such men Surely he does
not attempt to exercise like pre-
cautions with respect to the govern
mental machine; very likely thinks
that isn't his task, though it is, the
responsibility of doing his part to
assure proper inspection and care of
It, anyhow.
If he be one of those chosen to run
the machine, then is he doubly re-
sponsible This responsibility wore
out one of our best Presidents our
country has had. He believed in
elimination of the poisonous toxins
from the body polite by calm orderly
procedure, by evenhanded justice,
by the proper recognition of mutual
obligations, by stunning that which
stores up hate in place of love. The
latter is not an explosive. 1t is safe
to have about, to accumulate in all
places; it would rush to the relief
of Japan in its terrible calamity; it
would not have murdered the Italian
boundary commission: it would not
have peremptorily made unreason-
able demands in consequence or
seized opportunity to take that which
did not belong to 1t.
: The way to prevent explosions is
plain, not easy to be sure, somewhat
straight and narrow, but those, who
have learned by experience and profit
therefrom, choose it. and when
enough do this the explosions may
be avoided. Were we not incredibly
slow to learn and to act on what we
learn the way would be crowded and
comparative safety would be just
ahead.