Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-12-21
Nav Force Not Rule
BY Hjalmar Petersen

The brutal and unjust attack by
Russia, the largest nation in Europe,
upon Finland, one of the smallest
nations. has shocked the entire civil
lied world and has filled the Scandi-
navian countries with miSgivings as
to the future Sweden and Norway,
in particular, are apprehensive that
if the Russian monster brushes their
near neighbor, he will thereafter
pounce upon them. Sweden'S rich
iron mines and other natural re-
sources have long been the envy OF
certain powers that are constantly
armed for war, and, according to
press reports, Russia feels that Nor
ways arctic ports would be of Strate-
gic value in an international conflict.
The three Scandinavian countries
occupy unique position in the world.
They are small, but all have made
notable contributions to culture and
to the general progress of civilization.
They are a peace-loving people, and
during modern times have had friend
ly relations with the rest of the world
except for a few brief intervals.
Denmark last war was in 1864 when
her controversy with Germany over
Schleswig- Holstein resulted in an APP
peal to arms Sweden has been at
peace with all nations since the reign
OF Charles XII, in the Eighteenth
century, and Norway's unbroken era
of peace runs back even farther.
During the World war, the Scandi-
navian countries were about the only
European nations that were not drawn
into the awful conflict. They main
tanned peace with honor.
1t would be a misfortune if these
smaller countries should be conquered
and annexed by large, greedy pow
er, like Russia. In that event, their
people would lose much of their
creative impulse and their outstand-
ing qualities. 1t may not be too
much to say that for hundred years
no other people, in proportion to their
number, have achieved so much in
that which makes for the highest type
of civilization.
Each of the Scandinavian countries
has produced great builders, authors,
artists, musicians, scientists and
thinkers, whose fame and influence
have been worldwide, and if they
are permitted to remain in peace, free
from the interference and encroach-
ments of INSCRIPTIONS large powers,
there is every reason to believe that
the Swedes, the Norwegians and the
Danes will continue to contribute
their share to the worlds cultural
treasures.
Force against force is not the an
swer. America entered the World
war to save democracy, but instead
more relationships came into being.
Mediation should be the method,
rather than force, of settling interna-
tional controversies 1t is to be hoped
that Finland and the other democ-
racies may be spared against con-
tinued force. Let us help suffering
and starving humanity, but let Amer
lea stay out of the conflict. Then
when the war clouds vanish and
America comes without blood-stained
hands, we will be a power and in
fluence for world peace, the ultimate
goal.
1t is to be hoped that enlightened
democracies like the United States,
England and France will exert the
utmost moral pressure to protect
the Scandinavian North against in
vasion by Russia or any other totali-
tartan power or tyranny, who has
no regard for popular rights and looks
upon human beings as nothing but
automatons or cogs in a machine.
Finland is not Scandinavian coun-
try, but her relations with her near
neighbor, Sweden, have been very
intimate, and about Is percent of her
people are of Swedish descent. Many
people of Finnish birth or descent
also live in Sweden and have done
their share in making that country
prosperous and progressive.
The Finnish people, like the Scan
dinavians, are among the most en-
lightened people in the world. They
are great readers, and it is an inter-
esting fact that the largest book store
in the entire world is in Helsinki
Finland's capitol and metropolis. That
store is six stories high and covers
a whole block.
Yes, the civilization of Finland and
the Scandinavian North means much
TO the world and is worth saving.