Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-05-27
"THERE is NOTHING NEW

More than Is years ago-be-
fore the World War-Editor Gun
mar B. Bjornson of Minneota, de-
livered a Memorial Day address
the copy of which he located go
ing through the pigeon holes OF
a desk recently. Extracts of the
address was published in his Min
neota Mascot and is being copied
herewith As Mr.. BjornsOn says,
something written as timely
bit years ago, today retains much
of it's fire." There is nothing
new after all! His article fol-
lows:
Our country is still in need of 10y
al service, still in need of men who
will go out and battle for the truth,
battle for the uplift of the race,
battle for the determination of the
various enemies of the individual,
the home and the nation.
We need men of courage and char
acter in the days of peace, just as
we need them in the times of war.
1t is no less difficult to lead a
charge against a popular vice than
it is to stand in the front rank OF
a firing line on the day of battle.
Henrik Ibsen, the great Norwe-
gian dramatist, tells in one of his
plays of a doctor who discovered that
a certain stream from which the
people of a nearby city received their
water supply was polluted by the re-
fuse from manufacturing plant.
He told of his discovery only to be
contradicted and shouldered by press
pulpit and people, all of whom played
puppets for the commercial interests
that did the polluting.
Previous to writing this play Ibsen
himself had been figuratively stoned
for producing a drama picturing the
result of a common social sin.
1t is not an easy matter to attack
the long established wrongs and vices
of society.
1t takes courage of a high order
to act the role of Garrison, Wendell
Philips or John Brown.
1t takes courage to refuse to dc
what the crowd does. 1t takes
courage to defy the fashion whether
it is in dress, demeanor or diet.
l believe the world is growing
better.
believe that humanity is travelling
forward not backward.
l believe that we right now, live
better lives do more, good, aspire
to higher things and love with less
selfishness than ever before in the
history of the world
In short believe that mankind is
on the way, not from bad to worse
but from good to better.
l believe that there is good in all
but that there is an unlimited chance
for improvement in even the best.
And believing thus l can not help
feeling that the battle for the right
will ultimately be won.
Every hour we are confronted by
difficult situations which we must
meet.
Labor and capital present Difficult
ties that challenge the wisdom OF
our ablest statesmen.
The rights of money and the rights
of man are pitted against each other
Political corruption raises its head
in the halls of legislation, frequently
lays it's hand upon the helm of state
and has been known to even faster
its grip upon the ermine on the bench
The alarming increasing grist Of
the divorce mill threatens the home
The liquor traffic is a formidable
enemy of society.
The concentration of wealth an(
the threatening attitude of labor
presents a problem that will have t.
be faced-that is being faced with
more or less success from day to day
The danger of irreligion throwing
its dark mantle over the country il
a menace not to be minimized.
And thus the problems that con
front us are numerous and by NJ
means easy to solve.
Yes, the times of peace need patri
OTIS no less than the times of war.
Times of peace produce patriots
no less than do the times of war.
The lesson we must learn is tn,
lesson of service.
The true worth of a man is no
measured by what he has been abb
to do for himself but rather what h
has been able to accomplish fo
others.
There is no virtue in self-seeking
Acts of patriotism, deeds of hero
ism and valor in service OF country
have their origin in impulses, II
character attributes quite contrar!
to that of selfishness.
There are two things about which
the best and noblest souls OF all age
have especially concerned themselve'
Nationality and Religion.
They have loved their country. the!
have been true to their faith.
Those who have done the grea
deeds, the deeds which are inscribed
,,.~cx, tba foh1ofc of hisfOry the deeds