The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1941-05-01
1HeoyN
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E Y S :
BY
Hazel Brannon

SLabep anu NdsiflistOH, ~. ". dLtthu
ed the 56th annual convention of the
National Editorial Association at
jacksonville, Florida, last week and
after the convention made a o u of
that state by chartered buses.
Clayton Rand, editor of the
Guide, Gulfport, a past president OF
NEA, and his lovely wife, Mrs. Rand.
together with the writer represented
Mississippi at the convention. No
effort was spared by the state OF
Florida in making the occasion out
standing. California, traditional
rival OF Florida in its huge tourist
trade, sent So persons to represent
it.
We looked over the large crowd OF
people from almost every state IN
the union and thought about how
lucky we were to be a part of so
vast a country, a country where one
language is universally spoken,
where oyer 1870 million persons live
under one flag and n government
and where ideals r pretty much
the same even if we don't always
manage 70 achieve them for every
one.
What a contrast the United States
of America is to Europe with ITS
various populations and countries all
speaking a different language. How
much more the people of America
have in common with each other
than do the several races Of Europe
National unity m from a COM
mon source of race, breeding n
culture. 1t is strengthened with
common ideals, purposes and views
No amount Of legislation enacted
by Congress or administered by Pre-
sident Roosevelt can bring about nat
ional unity in this country, 1T can
come about only from the hearts OF
the American people with a. definite
objective in their minds and the will
to sacrifice their lives if necessary
to achieve their Common purpose.
There is no doubt in our minds
that almost one hundred percent OF
people would give their lives for
this country before they would turn
It over to any dictator, If the time
should ever come when America is
threatened by an invader.
National unity in that event would
be q very real and tangible thing.
Mem mou.d die gladly for this coun-
try and their loved ones would will
ingly give them up for America.
There would be no laying down of
arms as in France and the rest of
Europe. We would not holler for
England or any other country to
come to our aid. We would do the
best we could and stand on u W
feet as any nation worthy to exist
as free people would do.
While there Is complete unity on
the question Of defense for America
there is nothing approaching unity
on the question of involvement in a
European war. The American peo-
ple have two main detectives in their
heart. The first and dearest pur-
pose is keeping our boys at home,
not permitting them to fight and die
in ANY foreign land. The second
purpose dear to the hearts OF Am
orleans is preparing our country to
defend itself against any and all
invaders.
D...:Ixrs D~aunualt hos nullnI npn-
ple ~'appeasers" who are against in
volvement.
We believe the real appeasefs in
this country are those who would
plunge this nation into war when
hey must know that we are COM
pletely unprepared to wage defensive
warfare, and are wen less prepared
to fight an offensive war. We do
not have the men, MOI the equipment
and il will be many months before
we have sufficient facilities for
turning our equipment for a tram
ed army.
Those persons would have US
plunge into a war which we did not
starr anu pay TIE peiai'S ~ GA shN
years to come. They would sacri-
flee all the young men and all the
able men for their several selfish
purposes.
America has never been an inn
perialistic nation in the sense that
England has but we might we'll be
regarded as such by people in 9TH
er nations since our President and
Congress have pushed US into the
European war arena.
What Is A Mule? No, definition
is better than that classic when
has gone the rounds of newspaper
dom for many a year, and we make
no apology for printing 1t here;
"Bin, you are just a mule, the son
of a iackass, and / am a man made
in the image of God. Yet here we
ter year. / often wonder If | work
for you, or if you work for me.