Evening star., 1949-07-10
The Pains of Power


If the United States were a little en-
chanted island of somewhere in the South
Pacific, its inhabitants would be a rela-
lively small group with not much more to
do than fish, raise breadfruit trees, harvest
coconuts, and In general lead simple,
uncomplicated existence far removed from
the hurry -burly of the modern world. II
that were our lot today, we probably would
be quite happy; at any rate. we certainly
would not have a great deal to worry
about.
overwhelmingly or unfortunately,
depending on ones viewpoint-the United
States is not a little South Pacific isle.
1t Is vast continent where 148,000,O00
of us are engaged in activities whose in
fiuence Is felt on the affairs and fortunes
Of nations and individuals In every corner
Of the globe. It is place, moreover. whose
own affairs and fortunes are affected by
what happens in the remotest OF lands
abroad-in South America, in Asia, in
Europe, in Africa, among both our friends
and our potential enemies. In short, we
are inextricably caught up in the turmoil
of the world. We cannot get out of 1t. We
cannot secede from 1t. Whether for good
or Ill, we are up to our necks in it-inevi-
tabdy, inescapably, more deeply than ever
before in our history-and it entails un-
precedented headaches and responsibilities
Of sort that simply cannot be wished
away.
The thing that has happened to us is
that the center of world power-or at least
the power center of the non-Soviet world
has shifted to our country. Centuries ago,
Rome was that center. In recent times,
it was Britain. But now, far more suddenly
than in the case of any predominant ma
ton in the past 1t has moved to the
United States. The Second World War,
having wrecked the old international
balance, has placed us on a summit of
strength whose equal cannot be found
anywhere. In terms of industrial produc-
ton, In terms of actual and potential mill
tary might, In terms of overall economies,
in terms of finance, in terms of the dollar
that most lands need to keep their econ
omies going, we are colossus bigger than
any that mankind has seen heretofore
But the very fact that we are such a
colossus means that we must shoulder
tremendous burdens. There is nothing
else to do-short of letting everything 60
to pot abroad and thus giving the green
light to the Red totalitarians.
1t would be easier, 1t would be pleasanter,
all of us probably would be much happier,
If we could look the other way and forget
about the rest OF the world. But being
powerful exacts price of the powerful. 1t
puts a tax on peace of mind, 1t imposes
responsibilities, 1t creates the problems and
worries of leadership, it hounds any pre-
dominant individual or nation with pres
sures and tasks that call for the most
difficult kind of thinking and decision
making. AS Charles Cotton wrote a century
ago, ITO know the pains of power, we must
go to those who have 1t; to know its
pleasures, we must 60 to those who are
seeking 1t: the pains of power are real,
its pleasures imaginary" Certainly, the
United States does not delight in being
so strong that 1t must exert itself, and
give Of its substance, In behalf OF free
nations everywhere.
Yet, painful though the responsibilities
of American power may be, they cannot be
lodged with safety. The Greek Turkish
program, the Marshall Plan, the Atlantic
Pact, limited ornaments aid, the Point
Four project to develop backward areas,
efforts to dissuade Britain and other coun-
tries from resorting to bilateral trade be-
cause of the dollar shortage-these and
kindred measures, no matter how difficult
and costly, are essential to our own long
term economic well-being and security.
Without them, we can have only world
Of disorder, world in which our friends
would be likely to fall one by one, world
OF easy pickings for the Soviet Union a
world in which the United States would
ultimately find itself alone, friendless and
gravely imperiled
Accordingly, until the time comes-if
ever-when there is genuine collective
security on global scale, the American
people, even though they may sometimes
wish they were small tribe on a small
Pacific isle, will have to bear the burdens
OF their national strength as intelligently
and with as much vision as possible. Not
to do so would be merely to be powerful
without being great. And power, when it
lacks greatness, must fall sooner or later
of its own dead weight.