The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-02-09

y spirituality and freedom Of men.
day.
, about this il not In the least ac-
counted for by the reflection that
mistaken ideas about facts are
habie to lead to failures Of policy
or plan. II II part Of the proper
dignity Of = man that his mind
should be rightly related to real
ity. or In other words that his be-
liefs should Be- true. and also that
he should speak the truth and not
resort TO deceit. But what IL the
ground Of this dignity!
Times Have Changed
Not long ago these questions had
living interest only for philoso-
pliers. Most people were disposed
to say--'T know ! ought to tell the
truth and ! expect other people to
tell the truth to me. 20 what 10
there to worry about" But we
cannot nay that now. because there
Ia this whole war To worry about:
there II Coebbels to worry about.
there 10 the bombing Of Pearl Har-
Dor while Japanese ENJOYS con-
ferred with the secretary of state
ct Washington to worry about.
II il quite true that = world In
which Freedom, Justice and Truth
are ignored IL one In which most
Of us would not care to live. But
there IL, n we sadly zee. 4 large
part Of mankind which despises
Freedom. flouts Justice and ignores
Truth. not In moments of tenn
porary weakness but a. q matter
Of settled principle.
II h futile 10 say 10 Hitler
Or 10 ToJc-"Ycur method Of
bombarding or invading . sup
pesedly friendly nation with
out warning makes al nego-
tiaticn Or mutual dealing Inn
possible" because their reply.
actual n unexpressed. IL I'VE
% not want mutual dealing;
We want domination"
Now. 1t Ia not enough merely TO
check the aggression of these nom
moral bullies. What they show US
IL not merely 4 wicked exercise Of
the free-will Of individuals, but the
logical outcome Of q conduct Of
life on principles that ignore God.
II the only reason for respecting
Truth 10 that in most cases II IL
convenient TO do %, we shall ig-
more 1t when we are convinced that
we can serve our purpose better
In that way.
Hitler Finds Mankind GullIble
Mein kampft is not a close-knit
logical treatise. but II expresses q
single apprehension of life: II Is q
consistent expression Of q view OF
life for which there are no i'm
mutable principles to be regarded
The mass Of mankind In regarded
As gullible. 20 the smart man will
dupe them for his own ends. There
In no consciousness that this Is q
degradation Of the so-called smart
man m well AZ an outrage upon
the deceived majority.
Hitler has done NO more
than epitomize . certain ten
dency In European civilization.
He has accepted . secular
view Of man and worked out
! lie logical consequences with
logical ruthlessness. II we are
70 ave civilization from Hit
lerism ~ well ~ from Hitler,
We must see that the rcets
from which II springs are re-
moved.
II In vitality important that thi
should be understood. Hitlerism |
not q vice hike drunkenness--si
indulgence Of some one appetit
tthe lust for power in this case
| on the part Of men who recognize
the Moral law but choose to def
II: 1t is something much deepe
than that. The terrifying thin
about the Nazis is that they bs
lieve that they are right. The tro,
BILE with them h not the telling {
lies; It In what Plato called the 1
in the soul. This 10 a histories
product.
II Hitler Is to be judged not ss
self-seeking gangster which in
merely symptomstic characterize
| Of him. but rs the efflorescenc
the exaggerated expression. Of
/ tendency discoverable in evei
| modern country. Our task Is fir
TO defeat him and his associates
| all nations % that they may n
| rivet their odious system upon ,
| but also 20 turn back the tenden,
he represents and base our ords
ing Of life upon the principl
| which he repudiates.
II Ito Re Continued)
porld In its Dresenf chnOfi,