The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-12-07
Pearl Harb0r Day

A"o years ago To-Day the japanese attacked
Pearl Harbor. In matter Of weeks they had
swept southwark. taking tie Dutch East In
dies, Malaga, with the Philippines soon to
follow, and had to all 1ntents and purposes
won their war and gained supremacy in east
ern Asia.
December 7, 1941, was a Clark day in Amer
lean history. And in view of what quickly fol-
lowed, it contained no ray of sunshine for
Great Britain either. for the British were as
unprepared to hold in the Orient as we were
Hong Kong and Singapore were examples of
British unpreparedness, as indefensible as our
own in the Philippines. because of the many
signs Japan had given of intention to make
war at the side of Germany against the world.
Two years later the blot has been partially
eradlcated Slowly japan is losing its con-
quered empire Overstepp;ng their capacity
to hold what they had captured, the Japa-
nese are being forced backward in the south
west and mid-Pacific islands in an allied Of
fenslve which will stop only when Japan itself
is blasted from the air and the sea and on
the ground.
Whether the allied strategy, which contem-
plates knocking Germany out of the war be-
lore the Japanese are subjected to concen-
trated attack, is wise ~ short-slghted cannot
be determined at this time The only thing
we may be sure of is that before peace comes
to the earth, Japan will be hurnbled as no
nation was ever hllmhled before
Two years after Pearl Harbor it is manifest
that the YP11oW pari1 of tbo &c
We may not celebrate Pearl Harbor dav
Rather, we have reason to feel shame, on it's
anniversary. But at least we may take COM
fort in the knowledge that 1t will be avenged.
that the might of Allied arms has become
so great no enemy or combination of enemies
can Withstand it much longer
It is significant that lust prior to Pear,
Haroor day the leaders of the nations taking
the chief part in the overthrow of the Axis
concluded conferences at Which the doom of
both japan and Germany was sealed. From
the military viewpoint, the war has gone well
for the Axis enemies of late And the United
States has had conspicuous role in bringing
1hls ABOUT. Our arms in all branches have
been outstanding for their achievement. AS
IN all its wars, the United States has done
well. But it is with sorrow we nust acknowl
edge successes in war have been at the sac.
rifice of rights inalienable from citizenship
at home.
In the effort to win independence from for
elgn yokes we have been forced to surrender
much Of the independence conferred ,1non us
by the founding fathers We fight to over
throw totalitarianism abroad. but find it stead
lily increasing at home. Private enterprise is
shackled. Bureaucracy is dominant. The in
dlvldual may no longer exercise his consti-
tutlonal privileges, but must submit to the
dlctation OF petty satraps who have acquired
power by usurpation. Alphabetical agencies
lmpinge upon the jurisdiction of constitutional
courts and rule with aespotic Injustice.
We will win this war We must be- sure
that we do not also 4cse our independence.
We must face the fact That victory is all too
liable to bring defeat.
Pearl Harbor day is a fit occasion firmly
10 resolve that the bureaucrats must 90. along
with Hitler and TOTO