The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-12
THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST

OQo Oh Cu6 mOSt 6VSuClul uCSduOo
in modern history has ended. And
this nation enters a new decade dur
ing which, unless all signs are
wrong, its people must face and
grapple with problems, issues and
responsibilities of the most far
reaching character.
The 1930's will be known to the
historians of the future as the years
of one of the greatest and longest
depressions this or any nation ever
experienced. They will be known as
years of experiment, of trial and
error, of the weighing of our old
values and our old traditions. And
they will be knwn too as years in
which the democratic process was
consistently attacked by some Of
those who called themselves its
friends, as well as by those who
were its frankly avowed enemies.
From the international point Of
view, the tragic '30's came to a
cynically fitting end in that most
CHASTITY and unnecessary of events
q war which embraces much of the
world. In nation after nation the
arts of peace have of necessity been
put aside, to the end that war may
be prosecuted to the utmost. And
war destroys more than men and
materials and machines and eco
Monies and state. 1t destroys those
essential liberties for which men
have fought and died in holy causes
ever since the world we know began.
The greatest blessing which this
nation possesses today is its physical
remoteness from the conflict abroad.
That is position enjoyed by no
other of the worlds major powers.
There is profound wisdom in the
attitude of the great majority of the
American people who say, in effect
I'VE can keep out of war-and
we will keep out of war;" There is
no war party in this country-no
responsible statesman urges our
participation. We can all feel deep
and abiding thankfulness that this
is so. Never before was it so i'm
portant that we Americans keep our
heads, in order that we may also
keep our liberties. For should this
country become involved in war,
democracy would vanish here, as
swiftly and as surely as it has van
ished abroad.
Turning to our own internal prob
lens, our task Is great. The crafty
ing improvement that has recently
taken place throughout our eco
monte structure must not be allow
ed to blind US to the unpleasant
truth that not one of those issues
which we were forced to face at the
start of the depression has been
solved. Most of them have become
more complicated and difficult. The
national debt, despite the heaviest
tax load in our peace-time history,
has nearly trebled in the past decade
and will soon reach the present legal
limit OF $4,000, 100000. The inn
mense expenditures for relief con-
tinue, even though business has
much AmpfoFcu anu uh0AhpiOyh ohe
has consequently been reduced. The
agricultural situation, in spite Of a
long series OF extremely expensive
farm relief" measures, remains
tangled and unsatisfactory.
Summing up We have plenty to
DO at home during the years that
stretch ahead. The current Con-
gress and those which follow have
their work cut out for them.
Here In America we have all that
IN needed TO bring a greater, pros
perity than we have ever known
the industries, the men, the re-
sources. But unless We maintain our
basic liberties. material blessings
mean nothing News.