The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1932-03-18
WORDS OF WISDOM AND COMFORT

Each Monday morning issue Of Tom stouts Lewistown Democrat
carries a long editorial meditation, caphoned Sunday Night, by
Tom himself in his always clear, graceful, logical style. We find il
the last one that has come to our table an apt picture OF the world
wide ills that beset humanity. But up from the depths to which folly
has led, the reader finds himself borne back to heights from where
he tints of optimism predict the morning. The reasoning and con
'lusions of the editor brings harmonizing response into the minds OF
his Montana readers.
We take the liberty of reprfnting extracts and the concluding par
agraphs from this valuable Sunday Night reflection, the whole being
beyond our space limits.
"f sweet are the uses of adversely there are many millions
of our people who are just now wondering what substantial ad-
vantages to the human race will come out of the present condt
ton of world affairs. x x K The situation is all the more remark
able in that it comes upon IS at a time when all of the fruits of
human genius are flowing in their greatest profusion, especial
ly in the direction of utilizing to the highest degree the varied
gifts of nature for the welfare and progress of man. The earth
was never so abundant in its gifts. K K < All in all, we seem to
lack nothing but the capacity to coordinate the efforts of the
manner.
Gwen though they may be suffering from individual dis
tress, it is easily believed by those who are able to catch occas-
ionany a glimpse of the operations OF natures laws that this is
merely a testing time and that out Of the crucibles of suffering,
privatioR and turmoil will come a new order of society which will
mark the beginning of such progress as the human family has
never before enjoyed. Sheer necessity is gradually breaking
down the barriers Of hatred and suspicion which have, from
the beginning of time, animated segregated groups of people and
caused them to engage in futile rvaries and fruiuess wars.
"out of the weller Of conflicting opinions, we do not permit
oursef to believe other than that our own country will be among
the first of the leading nations of the earth to find its way out
: of the depths of political uncertainty and grOtesque economic
confusion; We believe that with the flames of adversely devour-
ing arrogant pride, selfish designs and unworthy ambitions,
we shall soon find ourselves coming through to cleaner living
and more contented lives. The reformation must be wrought
in the lives of our people before it can express itself in any
national improvement.
cat the present time, we are merely suffering from a period
OF unTestrained Indulgence which introduced numerous disturb
ing factors into the lives of our people. Too many millions Of
US for years chased the ignis fatuus of material possessions, i-
noranty believing that the accumulation of a few more dollars
or acres of land or other evidences of wealth in the form of
stocks, bonds, buildings, jewels and bank balances was absolute
1y essential to happiness. The great mass of our people now I'M
derstand the fooishness Of such a quest and are grimly settling
down to the job of trying to obtain that priceless guerdon from
the only source from which it was ever attainable, steady work
and dependence upon the simpler things Of life. The present
confusion is created largely by the minority who are still de-
termmed to have, in one way or another, the things which they
desire without earning by honest toll and devotion to orderly
and legal processes of accumulation. Our criminal class has
been hugely augmented by people of this sort, and their acuvt-
ties are causing some very unlovely expressions of American life,
but we sincerely hold this to be but the last phase of our period
of utter foolishness.
after a while we shall come once more to a time when the
home life which was once the strength of this new civilization
which we have established in America will be reestabIshed here.
Our lands will again be the abiding places Of millions of people
who will be grateful for the opportunity to take, through honest
labor, what Mother Nature has to offer for their subsistence and
comfort. Mnionaires may still be plentiful, but they will be
educated to the point where they shall accept it as a part OF
their duty to devote their wealth more and more to the welfare
of their fellows. Pending the arrival of such a state of affairs,
we. as individuals, can only proceed with our daily tasks unburd-
ened of pessimishc forebodings and taking comfort from reason
ed conduct and such opportunities as re may sieze upon to help
some one less fortunate than ourselves"