The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-05
DM.

nNCE more comes August reminding us of
~ how civilization blew up nineteen years
ago and OF how blind we were to what it meant
Optimists in the worst sense of the word we
only could see the bright side of things Though
realizing that war would be bad we accepted
1t as purging process consoling themselves with
the thought that, no matter how many human
beings were killed or how much property was
destroyed, it would result in healthier, happier
world.
One cannot review the last twenty years.
without being amazed at mems inability to un-
derstand the forces Of their own creation. much
less to control them. In no important instance
have our best minds been able to read the mean
ing OF events correctly.
| Take the Mexican revolution, the advent OF
a Chinese republic the effect Of submarine cam
paign on ocean trade, the overthrow of czarism
in Russia, the emergence of Mussolini the redis-
tribution OF colonies, the various plans for fnan-
cial reconstruction. and in what case has the
result squared with the prophecy
Civilized humanity has been inundated with
waves of skeptcism. has been led by the Incl
dental processes of revolution to abandon many
OF its hitherto firmly planted convictions and
beliefs. What was looked upon as progressive
twenty years ago now is considered quite reac-
tonary, while what was looked upon as reac-
tionary now is regarded as thoroughly pro-
gressive.
COMPELLED to organize for the purpose of
~ overthrowing old school despotisn, democ-
racy finds itself confronted with new school
Of dictatorship. accepting the RECOMMENDATION es-
Sential to war as the surest method by which to
pay the bill and repair damages.
Few people comprehended what the thing
would cost, even after it appeared to be over.
Our greatest economists failed to sense how the
enormous load of debt would crush financial
/ nd mr. oil d n
foresee the effect Of militarism on politics.
The Mussolinis, Lenins and Filters, with their
conception of unified control and rigid disc-
pine. were the logical type Of reformers in the
wage Of such a cataclysm. Even the United
States is glad to borrow Wilson'S war program
Of recovery and to clothe a peace-time Presi-
dent with dictatorial powers.
The things being done to meet depression,
not only here but abroad. bear a striking re-
semblance to the things that were done to beat
Kaiserism
XXTAR has way OF creating styles in state
w craft. Just as it has of creating styles In
dress. Bobbed hair. short skirts, controlled in
dustry. disarmament conferences nuisance taxes
and bureaucrats go back largely to the great
mobilization Of 1914 and the glorious manner
in which men organized to destroy their physical
and intellectual heritage.
I said at the time that II would take fifty
years TO recover. not in the sense Of bread and
meat, but in the sense of poise and Judgment
I am inclined to amend that: 1t will take nearer
100 years
There is no evading the consequences Of folly
and the sooner we get 1t into our heads. the
better ii will be for all concerned. Civilization
went down into the jungle. reverted TO barbar-
ism turned its back on intelligence, resorted to
murder on the grandest scale ever known, de-
stroyed property without rhyme or reason
mortgaged its future to the point OF insanity
Now IL has got to hack its way back, rebuild
pay of, repair and, above all else. readiust its
mind to constructive processes