The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-08-23
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
(Ben syndicate-wNU Service
EARS agoJ@h@ a SIN

~ EARO agOeWnen q small
brother of mine received
- as birthday present what
seemed to him dazzlingly COM
plete set of tools, he went out to
speak to the fine old Portuguese
who puttered about as general
carpenter and gardener and
handy man on my fathers farm.
give been thinking about our
tools, joe" said eight-year-old
Fred, "and I think the best rule
for us now is no more borrowing
and no more lending!"
AS often happens, the phrase of a
child fits a much larger situation
than child's mind can grasp. The
idea Of stopping all lending and bor-
rowing, as soon as one has reached
the point where one need no longer
borrow, Is applicable to the state of
affairs in Europe today.
This principle was very evident
in Europe. England and France had
all the wealth they needed, and de-
sired to maintain the status quo;
Italy and Germany were poor and
wanted to change existing con-
ditions.
The legitimate way for any ma
ton to enlarge its wealth and ex-
tend its borders has always been
by violence and seizure. For 1000
years the battle has been to the
strong; churches, philosophers, ed
ucators, politicians and the great
mass of peoples have all agreed
that If any nation COULD take q
thing by force, that nation was le-
gally entitled to it-until a more
forceful nation came along. Victo-
ries have been shaky things, trem-
bling along for a few years until
the Vanquished could gather
strength enough to turn them into
defeats. Age-old resentments have
smouldered between countries ever
since history began; the conquered
country only awaiting it's hour to
rise and struggle again.
To the Strong.
One country pushes great bust
ness ventures into another. The in
vaded country protests; its curren-
cy stands at a ruinous value, the
richer country, pouring its mer-
chants in, carrying off treasure in
its ships, is draining it Of its wealth,
year after year. So an uprising
takes place, and an episode" oc-
ours, and then the richer, distant
country has an excuse for sending
men and guns, and smashing down
an unarmed peoples pride and DOW
er, and holding military and manda-
tory rights in that country hence
forth. Perhaps the ruler who gives
those powers has no right to do so:
perhaps there is open treachery on
both sides.
That doesn't matter. The better
armed country has won. 1t can
now bleed the other country white.
garrison it, take every advantage
of its poverty, its demolished cur
rency, its ignorance and helpless
ness.
A Vicious Cycle.
1t would be a silly waste of time
TO enumerate the repetition of this
endless process. 1t has for 10 hun
dred years been considered the
right process. Armies of invasion
have been formally blessed; pray
ers have been fervently offered that
they may be successful in murder
ing on a larger scale than their
enemies. Territories seized, in our
lifetime, by successful troops, have
been serenely occupied and claimed
by the triumphant countries.
This was the old way. Let's not
be too hasty, therefore, in condemn
ing those nations that still cling to
it as the right way. For the sur
prising and wonderful thing is not
that men still have faith in war, but
that ANY nation begins to iceland
some nations are beginning so to
feel--that there is something wrong
with it. War is the natural thing