The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1951-03-22
Facts and Funcies
BY-Hdzel Pease

Though pacifism seems to be
popularity considered the unfor-
givable sin, I believe a majority
of peace mongers" sincere
people who think straight and
pray for spiritual guidance
would be the best thing this
nation could produce at this
time.
I quote now from DR.. Harp
er's article, I'm Search of
Peace:
Charges of pacifism are like
ly to be hurled at anyone who
in these troubled times raises
any question about the race in
to war. If pacifism means en-
bracing the objective of peace,
I am willing to accept the
charge. If it means opposing
all aggression against otheris, I
am willing to accept that charge
also. It is now urgent, in the
interest of liberty, that many
persons become peace mongers.'
Patrick Henry, that great
advocate of liberty, in a speech
before the Virginia convention
in TITS, said, T know of no way
of judging the future but by
the past Were he with us to-
day, he might we'll repeat that
advice to a national confused
and woefully mired in the pro-
blemS of war and peace-a ma
ton acting in a blind panic.
Our Present Plight
"Probably more wealth and
effort have been sq%uandered in
a fruitless search for peace by
the present generation than by
any other in the history of man.
For nearly half a century the
increasing tempo of war and
preparation for war has found
the world further and further
from peace. Time after time it
! has been asserted that if we
could only crush some particu-
lar dictator by the use of mill
tary might, the safety of mans
freedom would be assured.
Zone more supreme sacrifice
! again and again. And each time
| dictators more ruthless than
anything the world has seen
since Genghis Kahn arose out
of the refuse of war, leaving
liberty and peace the loser af-
ter each bloody conflict.
"Not only that, but in nations
like the United States and Bri-
tain, most of the trappings of
dictatorship. under different
names, have been accepted I'M
til the plight of citizens of a
free country is much the same
as that of citizens of a 'dicta-
torship' country. To test this,
merely make a detailed COM
parison, ignoring reasons given
in ones own country for this
or that abridgement of liberty.
1--WE speak of the threat of
World War III, even while we
are still officially engaged in
World War II. The gunShave
hardly cooled from a war in
which we Joined Russia to help
defeat Germany, Japan and
Italy. Now the veterans of that
| war are commanded to pick
| arms to defeat Russia, which
is operating under the same
MANAGEMENT and with the same
| policies and methods as when
we were her ally-if, in fact,
we are not still officially her
ally.
"All the while our diplomats
have been Fastening to arrange
something that will pass for a
peace agreement with Germany.
Japan and Italy. Unless that is
done, it is especially awkward
for our legislators to appropri-
| ate our money to repleniSh a
military might that we have
lust finished destroying in these
former enemy nations.
"A Tito, a Franco or a Peron
is one day an enemy of liberty
and the next day it's friend.
Ships fr%antically rush here and
there, first giving then threat
| ening not to give our wealth as
| brides to friends and enemies
| alike. And there is no telling
which will be which tomorrow.
"While all these banners and
alignments Of nations have been
| shifting back and forth as with
the changing winds, the liberty
of the people in our haven of
| liberty has been constantly
eroding, until it has now reached
/ the lowest point in the history
of the nation. It makes one feel
as if he were being whirled
through space until he has lost
| all sense of direction
Continued next week.