Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-06-01
True Decoration
Day Thought

European nations parcelled out
World war SpoilS to victorS" were
true words of Rev Hans Wolner of
Cloquet, who rendered the Memorial
day speech at Moose Lake Tuesday.
We were supposed to save Democ-
racy in that war but what did we
really save? asked the speaker. We
can look into any veteran hospital
and see what the war cost us, but
there were millionaires made at the
expense of innocent lives and bodies,
continued the speaker.
It was really thrilling to sit and
listen to a true Decoration day adj
dress and not be compelled to sit and
listen to eXtolling of historic events
which have led up to all our wars.
Rev. Wolner did not mince words and
we too, must not mince words or
action while there is yet time to avoid
another conflict from which no one
will profit except those who are be-
hind the scenes-the promoters if
you please.
We went into the World war with
the avowed purpose of saving democ-
racy Did we? We hear the same
cry now, again and again. Many of
us were fooled completely by that
cry: we wanted to down Germany as
a menace to democracy in the world
We did, but was democracy any bet
ter off? 1t was not. The true facts
of the case as we find them 20 years
after that great conflict, are that
we have several relationships evolv-
ing from that war. They are now
endangering democracy in the world
They are demanding those spoils back
which the spoilsmen took away from
them 20 years ago.
No, another war will not save
democracy; it will just save few
fortunes and make few more mil
ionaires The only way for us to
save democracy is to save it right
here at home by word and deed. We
must not neglect it.
The Decoration day speaker truth
fully told, also, of the queer work
ings of the human race. First, he
said, we take up a collection for the
Chinese and then on the other hand
we have system whereby we allow
the sale of scrap iron to the Japs
to knock the Chinese to pieces. We
are humane in one sense of the WORD
and then on the other hand for dirty
profit" we will aid in the destruction
of those we would help
Patriotism does not take depth
when we shout the loudest about
helping certain European nations
down the dictators, but rather wher
we set an example of peaceful pro-
cedure of such sincere proportions
that others can not help but follow
We can not be patriotic when we
will allow our representatives to
plunge us into war abroad, but we
can be patriotic if we will let them
know that they should keep us out OF
conflict and away from all binding
alliances except when our shores are
endangered. This is not cowardice
but just plain common sense. There
isn't, now, nation in the world that
can 60 through another war without
bringing on chaos and despair to its
people. We must keep out of wal
and maybe thereby point the way tc
keep others out of war.
AS we have stated many times be-
fore we must, above all else, keer
the privilege of free speech which
every one holds dear in true democ-
racy. For by that method only car
we control our own destinies. We
like to listen to true words like we
heard on this Memorial day and we
do not feel bit less patriotic after
listening to them.