Evening star., 1939-11-14
Preservation of Peace
Here Held First DUTY
Writer Urges Cultivation Of
Friendships in This
Hemisphere
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
For generation upon generation the
American people have set aside a special
day to give thanks to the infinite for the
many blessings which we, free and
,iberty-loving people, have in our pos
session. This year we can be doubly
joyous, for do we not have In many of
the States two Thanksgiving, one by
special proclamation and the other by
tradition?
in commemorating these eventful days
we should not loose count of the fact
that Thanksgiving In America has an
extra-special significance. When we sit
down this year to our turkey, whether
1t be the 23rd or 30th of the month, we
should recall the real reason behind this
memorable occasion. We should let our
minds stray back over the years to a
brave little band on the coast of New
England, faced by storm and hunger, but
grateful in the face of such hardship and
depression that they were free men and
women. that they had broken the chains
of tyranny and oppression and that they
could worship their God and support and
defend their country according to the
dictates of their conscience.
Many died that first long winter at
Plymouth. Had not the Indians intro
duced them to corn and offered them as
sistance all might have starved. Many
failed to be present at the first Thanks
giving, but those who survived fell on
their knees and gave thanks to the
Divine for His guidance and generosity.
They had tasted the power politics of a
mad Europe and they had found new
Utopia beyond the seas.
A new Nation was established and its
doors thrown open to the oppressed of
every land. They swarmed here by the
millions, praying to God that they might
arrive safely and thanking God If they
did. Here was a new life, new hope,
new chance to express ones feelings.
Today as then, this Nation stands out
as the guiding light in world dimmed
by the clouds of ignorance, selfishness,
and dictatorship. We hold torch, the
torch OF uncensored intelligence. May
God grant us the privilege of always
keeping it aloft, shining brightly, for all
mankind to see and follow.
1t is the humble opinion of this writer,
however, that such could not be done if
we, too, allowed ourselves in any way to
become part of that degradation which
at the present encompasses so much of
the human race. We cannot be an ex-
ample If we, too, become a part of the
mud and mire which now covers so much
of the continent of Europe
We should strive to maintain our re-
spect and influence as the citadel of
120,000,000 free and peace-loving people.
but to our 20-odd sister republics in this
hemisphere. We should tolerate no dis
crepancies as regards this hemisphere
and if need be, surround ourselves with
a Maginot Line reaching from the Ber-
ing Strait to Cape Horn and back up the
East Coast to Baffin Bay.
1t might be wise under certain condi-
tions to help bring peace to Europe
provided that effort had the cooperative
Endorsement of all belligerents, but until
such representations are made, We will
do we'll to mind our own internal af-
fairs and live at peace with our neigh
bors. Protect what America has and we
save for the world a treasure of in
estimable value We cannot save this
treasure by scattering it to the four
winds. Let us have our Thanksgiving,
that we may once more show our ap-
probation for blessings which We enjoy
and let us pray that in the near future
every nation will share with us the fruits
enjoyed by free and untrampled people.
BENJAMIN R. STICKNEY, Jr.
November 49,