Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-07

portant provisions in the prepare
ton for national defense Is a proper
and sound selective service act.
Such a law ought to give authority
for a very broad mobilization Of ail
the resources of the country. both
persons and materials. can see
some difficulties in the application of
the principle, for 1t is the payment
OF a higher price that stimulates an
increased production. but whenever
1t can be done without economic
dislocation such limits ought to be-
established In time Of war as would
prevent so far as possible all kinds
OF profteering. There is little de-
tense which can be made of a system
which puts some men in the ranks
on very small pay and leaves
others undisturbed to reap very
large profits. Even the income tax
which recaptured for the benefit of
the National Treasury alone about
IS per cent Of such profits, while
local governments took part of the
remainder, is not a complete answer.
The laying of taxes is. Of course, in
itself a CONSUMPTION Of whatever Is
necessary of the wealth of the
country for national defense, but
taxation does not meet the full re-
quirements OF the situation. In the
advent of war, power should be
lodged somewhere for the stabiliza-
ton OF prices as far as that might
be possible in justice to the country
and its defenders.
But it will always be impossible to
harmonic justice and war. 1t Is al
ways possible to purchase materials
with money, but patriotism can not
be purchased. Unless the people are
willing to defend their country be-
cause of their belief in 1t, because of
their affection for it, and because it
Is representative Of their home, their
country can not be defended. If we
are looking for q more complete,
reign of justice, more complete
supremacy of law, more complete
social harmony. we must seek 1t in
the paths of peace. Progress in
these directions under the present
order of the world is not likely to be
made except during a state of do
mestic and international tranquility.
One of the great questions before
the nations today is how to promote
such tranquility. '@
The economic problems Of society
are important, On the whole. we
are meeting them fairly well. They
are so personal and so pressing that
they never fail to receive constant
attention. But they are only a part.
We need to put q proper emphasis
on the other problems of society. We
need to consider what attitude Of the
public mind it Is necessary to culti-
vate in order that a mixed popula-
ton like our own may dwell to-
gether more tremendously and the
family of nations reach a better state
of understanding. You who have
been In the service know how abb
solutely necessary 1t is in a mill
tary organization that the individual
subordinate some part of his per-
sonalty for the general good. That
is the one great lesson which results
from the training OF a soldier. Who
ever has been taught that lesson in
camp and field is thereafter the bet
ter equipped to appreciate that 1t is
equally applicable in other depart
ments of life, 1t is necessary in the
home, in industry and commerce. in
scientific and intellectual develop
meht. At the foundation of every
strong and mature character we find
this trait which is best described as
being subject to discipline. The es-
sence Of 1t is federation. 1t is toler-
alton in the broadcast and most in-
elusive sense. liberality of mind.
which gives to the opinions and
judgments of others the same gem
erous consideration that 1t asks for
its own. and which Is moved by the
spirit OF the philosopher who de-
clared that ITO know all is to for
give all" It may not be given to
finite beings to attain that ideal.
but it is none the less one toward
which we should strive.
intolerance
One of the most natural Of reac-
tions during the war was intolerance.
But the inevitable disregard for the
opinions and feelings of minorities is
none the less a disturbing product Of
war psychology. The slow and diff
cult advances which tolerance and lib
eralism have made through long pc
RODS Of development are dissipated al
most in a night when the necessary
wartime habits OF thought hold the
minds of the people. The necessity
for a common purpose and q united
intellectual front becomes paramount
to everything else. But when the
need for such a solidarity is past
there should be quick and generous
readiness to revert to the old and nor
| AhoA HaoitS VI tHOa6hk. mere chOQlQ DC
an intellectual rehabilitation as we'll
as military rehabilitation. Prog
ress depends very largely on the en-
couragement of variety. Whatever
tends to standardize the community.
to establish fixed and rigid modes of
thought, tends to fossilize society. If
we all believed the same thing and
thought the same thoughts and ap-
piled the same valuations to all the
occurrences about US. we should reach
state of equilibrium closely akin to
an intellectual and spiritual paralysis.
1t Is the ferment of ideas, the clash of
disagreeing judgments. the privilege
of the individual to develop his own
thoughts and shape his own character,
that makes progress possible. It is
not possible to learn much from those
who uniformly agrea with US. But
those who disagree with us; and even
when we can gain nothing our diff
ferences are likely to do us no harm.
In this period OF after-war rigidity.
suspicion and intolerance our own
country has not been exempt from I'M
fortunate experiences. Thanks to our
comparative isolation, we have known
less of the international frictions and
rivalries than some other countries
less fortunately situated. But among
some of the varying racial. religious.
and social groups of our people there
have been manifestations of an intol-
erance Of opinion, a narrowness of
outlook, fixity of Judgment, against
which we may well be warned. 1t Is
not easy to conceive of anything that
would be more unfortunate in q COM
munity based upon the ideals of which
A - a~tl nr III
development of intolerance as regards
religion To a great extent this coun-