Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-11

"A. f1uSSey 10 supply q 6idhS III tiSS'
and the cooperation of the Central
Maine Power Company. Augusta will
again this season enjoy a beautiful
municipal Christmas tree, to be step
ped in Market Square and Illuminated
through the holidays. This announce
ment will be received with pleasure
generally, and the wonderful tree
which commanded the square last year
brought fame and commentator by
the many who saw 1t from the car
windows as they travelled over the
rails of the Maine Central.
DR.. Thomas Address
The address by the speaker Of the
evening, DR.. Thomas. was in part as
follows:
Life is a screen upon which the
great human drama is portrayed. 1t
presents comedy, it presents tragedy,
with Kaleidoscope change. Europe
today especially and, in fact, the wide
world is emerging from the worlds
greatest tragedy Some find that
Europe hates us: some that they res
pect us; some that it is Indifferent to
us. It depends entirely upon per-
sons experience and no what exper-
fence impresses him. Oftimes a
whole nation Is judged by a single in
cident How easy 1t is to misjudge.
It will help one in forming his opin-
ions II he knows something of the
people, their history, characteristics
and temperament. Even in this there
Is danger Of prejudging.
What is Going On in the World
LET US view the screen of this
great human drama for moment
and see what passes before us. Mex
leo, Russia and China are struggling
to establish themselves on sound
government foundations but you and
I may not live long enough to see
stable governments in these coun-
tries. A modern constitution cannot
be put into effect with any degree OF
power placed in the hands Of the peo-
pie with so per cent or 80 per cent il
| literacy in that country. Modern gov
eminent becomes effective and stable
Just in proportion to the spread OF
education among the people.
"Mussolini has fired the imagina
ton of the Italians with the dream
Of new glories equal to the old glor-
les Of Rome. They seek to astound
the world with the fastest steam
ships, the swiftest airplanes, the long
est railway tunnels and the most
spectacular achievements in many
lines.
Russia Is attempting to form an
Asiatic league of Nations comprising
herself Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan
and China. Europe is visualizing an
European Federation Of States.
Steady, dignified old England, with
it's earth girdling power, seems to
l. h al tho MIRO q ho-
coming a league of states, each more
independent than an American state,
held together by the sentiment of
common king.
"America is standing out by her
self in an attitude of watchful wait
ing fearful lest she become entangled.
She is big enough, strong enough
and has influence enough to protect
her self politically, economically and
with arms.
"Chinese armies are being drilled
and directed by Russian Bolshevistic
generals in an attempt to cut the
Celestial Empire up In detail. France
and Italy are squaring off in duelistic
attitude for sword play. Much of the
time hatred and fear is still ex-
tant and national jealousies and ra-
cial and religious hatreds are contin-
uing their triumphal march. The mill
of the gods grinds slowly but 1t grinds
exceeding fine. The question Is whe-
Their or not there Is sufficient brain
power and justice in the world to
overcome these old hang-overs of
barbaric days and set up in the world
the reign OF goodwill. justice and
friendship.
Distress in Europe
Eat the present time, there is great
distress in Europe. Having been in
Europe in 1925, l can see distinct
change in the attitude of Europeans.
They have either become used to the
clouds of despair or they see day.
light ahead. I am inclined to think
they see daylight and Europe Is
much nearer, with all her distressing
situations, to rehabilitation than she
was q year ago. But she has-far to
go. The coal strike in England was
the most disastrous and the most
expensive strike the world has ever
known. It is now settled. the work.
men going back to the mines with
longer hours of work and less pay
than before the strike, and again
Labor suffers. Twelve do,'ars a week
to support family with the present
high cost of living in England would
seem an insurmountable hardship to
an American laborer. The great loss
Of man power, the crippled humanity
back on her streets, old age pensions,
the eighteen shilling dole to the UNI
employed indicate plainly that the
English people are living sub-normal
lives, lacking the comforts if not tho
necessities of life. But England Is
our Mother. We respect her great
qualities, her dignity her honor, her
mental power and her ability to I'M
tangle difficult knots.
France until the past summer has
had no unemployed. On the other
hand. she has absorbed nearly five
million foreigners who ~nuld have |
come to America had they been able |
to get in. The acts of Congress in |
1921 and 1924 whereby only Q per |
cent of the foreign population of the |
different countries in America coulo !
come in has made it necessary for |
these people to find other places of |
refuge. AS a consequence, two mil |
lion Italians have crossed over into
France. One million Spaniards have |
left the stony fields of Spain and !