The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-09-12
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
SWEET LAND OF GIMME

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It's crystal clear that emergency has become
the accepted way of life of the American people.
The spirit of these spending times is currently
revealed in the columns of your morning news
paper. Here is suggested a public health program
nonchalantly priced at $S,500.0 600 Here, pres
sure for a moratorium upon HOLE mortgages
Here, millions for clothing and grapefruit Juice
and opera for the unemployed One hundred fifty
million for rural electricity Relief costs at record
breaking levels. while each days low descending
sun sees some new shny-eyed proposal whereby
government" is to distribute culture to and
all in the grand manner Of Romes bread and cir
cuses.
/ Time was when the American who wanted the
good things Of life looked mainly to his own re
sources of character and ability for the getting
Now he turns to Washington. That earlier
hdence in ones powers gave assurance that
the nation would move ahead. Today, the conta-
glous resignation to life ordered and sustained
hy political dispensation has changed opportunity
to opportunism. We elect security rather than
success: We glorfy political charity newly dis
covered virtue and. in the name of the more album
dant life We mock the frugal and plumber the
thrifty.
PAY nothing down." is the national slogan, It's
viduals we no longer place our faith "ln God We
Trust" and keep our powder dry; our coin OF the
realm today bears the strange inscription, ON
W.P.A. We Trust" while thousand underprivi-
legged communities in this one-tme land Of the
free and home of the brave unashamed. canonize
the P.WA.
Each year brings new low IN the dlSintegla-
ton of the national character. Defeatism reigns
set TODAY boasts of its economic casualties and
invahdism. No matter in what direction you look
at our national life YOU may be sure some com
mission" has made study" and found Conditions
shocking" We have switched the famed American
genius Of selling to the job of telling the world
and his wife about our bumper crop Of dsappoint
ments and Illustrations. The land of bountifuI OPP
portunity has come overnight to be mans land
Of despair.
If don't succeed shall blame YOU. What YOU
have is as much mine yours. In that philosophy
all gains are ill-Gotten. and fortune won by labor
while others played is Contraband as the cargo
of the smuggler Possession is longer nine points
of the law. Property is the shameful sign of sue
cess in time when failure is made to seem The
nohler cause Wel-heing is wicked, prudence IS
decadcnt sacrifice is silly, careers must be SubSl-
died sweat is un-American. Under the banner Of
soak the rich" our political Robin Hoods make
ironic holiday with the mcagcr savings of the
people.
The formula for this benefaction is simple
as X Y z. perSuades that he Is llI-used by
the world. is denied the good things through no
fault of his own The remedy? If \ will elect
to A political job he will satisfy Us desires. How
will he do it? VIGOROUSLY Of course; he will force
third group. represented by Woodworking y to
work harder not only for the benefit of hut also
that may be supported in regal style to which
he has not been accustomed,
1t is all as old as politics 1t works as long as
is complaisant or ignorant Or until the store
of the ants is ravaged by the grasshoppers. Be
cause provides the snews of all political gifts
unhonored unsung, Exploited. All too real is the
danger that when he becomes appropriated he will
become extinct EX-Amerlcan.
This cheated generation broadcasts the cry.
Calling all Corrgans!" to crusade for return t"
the self-starting America once kncw.-Merc
Thorpe in Nations Business