St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1948-12-03
Says America Fought
Two Wars to Finance
BankruDt ImneriaIiSm

Bankrupt Imperialism
Editor: Secretary of State Rob
ert Lansing wrote of President
Wilson's part in drafting the
Treaty of Versailles:
He has put himself on a level
with politicians experienced in in
trigue, whom he will find a diff
ficult lot. He will sink in the es-
timation of the delegates who are
not of the inner circle, and what
will be more disastrous will be
the loss Of confidence among the
peoples of the nations repre-
sented."
AT no period Of the worlds his
tory has lying been practised so
ShamelesSly, so efficiently or on
so vast scale as by political and
economic dictators of the TWEEN
tieth century"
Already events are proving that
War No. 2 has been a tragic repi-
tition of the causes and results of
these ancient Affections. Yet we
are still being told that the only
thing we must fear is fear itself.
History teaches us it is know
ledge that is power and not ruth
less courage. 1t is ignorance that
makes towards of men. 1t is the
prostitution of truth that breeds
human corruption and human
slavery.
During the past 80 years men
highly skilled in the arts of mas
terry have strutted onto the inter
national stage. One by one these
masters have abused the conf
dence of the people, usurped their
liberties, and corrupted their
minds and morals. Always for al
legedly fair and noble ends, and
always under the guise of a be-
nevolent tyranny, these masters
have succeeded in committing two
international crimes in one gener-
alton.
Certainly these things have not
just happened. There are too
many of the same strange threads
running through the pattern of
recent years for us to continue to
believe our highest policy-making
circles are either ignorant or in
nocent of what they are doing.
Again we are admonished not to
be perfectioniSts or stary-eyed
idealiSts, and not to expect too
much from all the promises and
schemes with which our states
men inspire our sacrifice and suf-
fering. Again as was the case fol-
lowing the last war, we are told
there has been a slight misunder-
standing among the victor powers
If we read history Alright, this
Nation was born in the bloody ira
vail of Just such an historic epoch
Of the world revolt against the
then-exiSting social and political
tyranny as the one in which we
now find ourselves. The founders
of our government knew the his
toric background of this revolt
They were carefully conscious Of
its cause. Faithful to the lessons
they had learned from history
they built the foundations for q
new nation under God. Our Con-
stitution was framed in the light
of that knowledge.
What was even more important
is that our respect for the dignity
and rights of human personality
was directly derived from a Chris
tan heritage and incorporated in
to the very heart of our conStitu'
tional representative govern
ment."
There was not the slightest mis-
understanding of these principles
and ideals in the minds of oul
freedom-loving fathers. There
cannot possibly be any misunder'
standing Of the challenge of these
historic truths now. The American
people still know inStinctlvely
wherein lies their creates
treasure and their creates
strength. Let's hope we have moi
yet lost our faith that the eSsentla.
genius of a free society lies in Its
power of self-criticism and self
correction. Let's hope we have moi
become such moral ingrates as &c
expect Almighty God to save from
the consequences of acts which