Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-13
"What dignity robes the man who
10 willins to suffer lndignity for his
convictions"
" SOMETHING TO CONSIDER

We are under the impression that
the wish to decide for ourselves just
what the obligations Of this country
may or may not be in any instance
il largely predominant In this coun-
try. In other words 1t goes against
the grain to think Of leaving to
arbitration any disputes in which we
may become involved. Indeed, with
out boasting, it appears that we
have been pretty successful in arriv-
ing at just conclusions. While this
Is measure Of assurance for the
future it does not alter the fact that
no one sees himself as others see
him and that our isolated attitude
is provocative. likewise in some de-
gree conducive to misunderstanding
II not worse.
mistice Day President Coolidge took
occasion to endorse that which his
predecessor, President Harding, ad-
vocated, universal CONSUMPTION, and
declared: ANY future policy Of con-
scription should be all inclusive, ap-
plicable In its terms to the entire
personnel and the entire wealth of
the Nation"
This is a situation too tremendous
for comprehension. The task Of
conscripting the youth and sending
them to the front and sustaining
.tlem while there exceeded the Gov
ernment's ability to do 1t as well as
IL should have been done, though it
did surprisingly well under all the
circumstances. Our youth We're
eonscripted and in some instances
ordered on the firing line before they
knew how to load or fire a gun.
What would have happened had we
attempted to place the control of
everything under the Government?
The Governments back was all but
broken as it was.
The mere fact that far seeing
leaders anticipate the need of such
drastic efforts indicates unmistak-
ably that apprehension of war has
not passed from the most discerning
minds. This argues preparedness,
not only of the Individual in discip-
line for selfdefense but preparedness
i'll minds in all walks of life. The
promoter if wise, should contem-
plate, while there is time to do so,
conditions under which he no long
er would be a volitional agent of
promotion, but drafted into the SER
vice of the Government; the manu-
facturer, the farmer, the whole
saIer, the banker, the Spectator, no
wartime profits for them, no in
dividuality in enterprise for person.
al advantage, all drafted into the
ranks, their business taken over as
we're our railroads and doubtless as
badly managed. Something to think
about: something that should temper
consideration. that should enlighten
our selfshness whenever we are
called upon to estimate our obliga-
tons or determine our attitude
toward other peoples.
If we refuse to submit our obli-
cations to arbitration we best sub
init them to the most careful con-
sideration in the light Of what war
would mean under universal con-
scription. And universal conscrip-
ton we believe to be right, in theory
at least, though how we might be
able to make good use of it is not so
easily determined This much is
clear: in a wise generation the
butcher, the baker, and the CANDLE
SHOEMAKER will be we'll advised to
tolerate nothing provocative Of war
and to encourage everything honor
able that is conducive to peace. It
should not slip from recollection
That while a few individuals may
have accumulated property in the
last war under the most favorable
OF conditions the country as a whole
was loser