The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-08-16
Coming of Peooe
Brings Tremendous
RESPONSIBILITIES
.
BY Cnas. ID. Rowe

ndO Deen hoping IOT through So
many sad years came to worried
hearts throughout the world Mon
day in the announcement that Japan
was ready to surrender to the Al
lies. That meant the end of the
war. While official announcement
was not received till many hours
later, yet this news promised the
world that it was only matter OF
a relatively few hours until peace
would once again reign throughout
all the lands of this troubled earth. /
This lifted from millions OF hearts
the load of dread and worry, the
fear for loved ones who were IN
the midst of the fighting and the
danger. II must have brought TO
countless millions such happiness
as had not been their lot for many
depressing days and months and
years.
The coming of peace brings
great and perplexing responsible
ties. It is to be hoped that 1t also
teaches mankind new lesson, or
in better words, reiterates or re-
emphasizes lesson that should
have been learned by all men long
ago.
1t was only few years ago that
the contention was prevalent that
democracy had failed, that the de-
mocracies were decadent, that the
totalitarian state was the next step
forward in civilization, that all
power ought to be concentrated in
the State, and that the individual
should only be cog in huge gov
ernmental machine. The war has
largely proved the falsity Of that
contention. In this battle between
| totalitarianism and democracy, the
democracies have come out vlctors.
The United States has surprised
even its own people in its power to
produce 1t has supplied not only
its own needs but it has sent noun
tains of war materials to the Al
lies. The power of a free people
to produce has been one of the fore
most factors in bringing victory to
the Allied cause. Never let it be
again said that the totalitarian state
is more efficient than where de
mocracy is the choice of the people.
-.
1t is also TO be hoped that the
outcome Of the present conflict will
teach war lords and rulers another
lesson. 1t is that no one nation IS
ever going to rule the entire world.
It Just isn't in the cards. German
and japanese militarists set out on
a program of world conquest. That
program included the subjugatlon
and enslavement of those nations
that they considered inferior peo-
pies. Their mistaken conceptions
! have brought destruction to their
own governments instead. Instead
of glorious victory, defeat and de-
graduation are their lot
And how senseless and how USE
less has been their colossal crime.
They plunged the world into I'M
imaginable misery and horror. Mil
lions of the worlds best young men
have been slaughtered and manned.
Countless thousands of women and
children have been killed, or
manned, ravaged and made to suf-
lGl dilQ weep. AL Clltll WI ia liuo
been made to taste the bitter dregs
of misery and despair and heart
ache and untold suffering And not
a thing has been gained from this
awful tragedy by the men who in
stigated it. Instead of gain they
Ireap destruction. That should be
lesson everyone should read from
the events of the past few years.
War brings suffering and destruc-
ton for everyone concerned with it.
The present struggle has brought
world wide Wretchedness What
would be the result Of another
world war now that the atomic
bomb has been perfected with all
its powers of incalculable death
and destruction? 1t could mean the
plotting out of civilization. 1t is to
be hoped that fear of such results,
and fear of the power of unleashed
atomic energy will force mankind
to permanent peace.
1t is trite to say that victory
brings responsibilities. That has
long been recognized. But it bears
repeating at this time. There can
be no real peace in the minds and
hearts of men until justice and
fairness is the lot of everyone Too
long there has been little regard
for the rights of what we are prone
to call under privileged peoples.
The big and powerful nations of the
world should come to realize that
the best and truest craftsmanship is
that which plans for the enrichment
and improvement Of the lives of
the people over which they rule.
Those parts of the world where
people have lived in ignorance, SUI
perstition, disease and squalor
should be started on the path of ed
ucation and economic development
And right here at home there is
much to be. done in improving the
lot of the common man. There is
plenty Of injustice here that needs
correction. Peace truly brings re-
sponsibilities. The times call for
the greatest craftsmanship. The
United States has been forced out
into world leadership Our influ-
ence is tremendous. That influence
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