Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-15


world wars, now characterize the ma
tions of the earth. And even democ-
racy itself, the thing which Bjornson
believed to offer the only hope of the
common people, scarcely exists any
where outside of America, the English
speaking countries, and Scandinavia
Surely it Is not to be found in Russia,
or Italy, or Japan, or China, or India
What does exist in the name of de-
mOcracy in many countries is almost
mockery of the ideals that should
characterize that great philosophy.
Even in America it is being chal-
lenged on every hand. Where are
the leaders at home and abroad who
once more can capture the thought
and imagination of the people and re-
direct their thinking along these
lines?
Thought of League.
Forty years ago Bjornson was
thinking in terms of an incipient
League of Nations, where nations
/ would associate with each other,
solve their common problems through
peaceful means, emphasize the i'm
portance of free cooperation, and
enhance and cultivate their common
interests. This man was thinking and
speaking on these subjects long be-
fore President Wilson advocated the
League of Nations. His great asso-
| ciate, Nansen, finished out his days
| and in effect practically sacrificed
his life. certainly the closing years of
his life. in fulfilling or trying to full
fill Bjornson's dream, serving as high
commissioner of the League of Ma
tiOns.
But America never accepted Off
cially these teachings; she never
joined the League of Nations. Even
partly because the nations of the
earth do not speak in concert on the
subject. Both peace and the eco
nOmic welfare of ourselves and of our
children are being jeopardized by in
creasing our isolation and the spirit
of militant nationalism. The hope of
humanity lies in its moral leadership.
not in its armies and navies.
The closing years of Bjernson's life
were devoted to the consideration of
universal peace. He maintained that
peace throughout the earth could not
be secured through coercion and force.
1t was his opinion that it could be
achieved only on the basis of mutual
sympathy and justice.
One of his reviewers says that I'm
the pursuit of these new ideals he
became the fearless champion of all
human groups held in forced subjuga-
tion to some stronger group. Time
and again he took up his pen on be-
half of the Finlanders against Russia,
of the Slovaks against Hungary, OF
the Danes and the Poles against Prus-
STA. Nothing could better prove his
sincerity and courage than that his
defense of these suffering national
tiles was undertaken at a time when
his own country was still greatly in
need of the moral support of the
powers he attacked"
Died Before World War.
In the latter years of his life he
believed that the world was moving
in the direction of his dreams. Bjern-
son died before the great World war.
Had he lived 1 have no doubt that
he would have been as much the
victim of it and died as truly of a
broken heart as did Andrew Carnegie,
who saw his feeble efforts for the
establishment of an international
court of justice for the arbitrament
of war ruthlessly cast aside; or as
did Pope Benedict XIV, whose last
days were saddened by his failure to
prevent war between Austria and
Germany.
Bjornson's SEVENTEEN birthday an
niversary. in 1902. engaged the atten-
tiOn of the whole civilized world, for
by then he was recognized as a teach
er, a fighter, and prophet. For his
achievements in literature, he was
given the Nobel Prize in 1903.
Was Honored by Royalty.
In 1909 he became ill and his doc
tors informed him that there was lit
tie hope of recovery. This, by the
way, was the year in which his last
finished work appeared from the