OCR Text |
Show "Hold Fast to the Good" 1 For the United States reconstruction is a problem of salvage t ! rather than rebuilding. Our cities were not bombed. Our fac-- J tories were not looted. Our fields are not torn bv shells, nor our 1 j I roads fclown up by mines. j The war welded new elements together and forged from them j , instruments for common action of incalculable value. I j j That rival churches, hostile classes, competing iuduMries and v J I antagonistic institutions and individuals of every sort worked to- j f gether and grew appreciative of each other's virtue marks a gain; , i i' we must not lose. ; ; ? That billions of wate squeezed from inJuMry, much j ! marketing friction removed, labor truly mobilized and a promiinj: , . J' ; beginning made in adjusting the relations of employers and em-j I t " ptoved 1sJ as important a victory "as any gained in France. It will j j j he lost if our Bourbons who see no need of positive reconstruction, J j have their way. j i We created an army of Red l-ros nurses, trained millions in i first aid," built a nationwide system of base hospitals and accu-; ! t mulated a vast fund of knowledge concerning our national health, i !j r Wc learned wonderful lessons in sanitation. We gained valuable ; knowledge concerning the health of the people. Wc have the j I machinry, made for war, uith which to save in each peaceful year; i more lives than we spent in war. I'nless we consciously plan to leecp Thgse tilings, they win paw amy and in: fruit? at mir '-jut!-1 i j fice be lost. , J j War made cooperation honorable, placed service above profits. I .', as an Industrial incentive, and gave industry a common social aim; : ' that lifted it above conflicting individual interests. This is a 1 j j more valuable conquest than colonies, exclusive markets or widened j II boundaries. It is worthy of all effort to preserve. War taught that men fight best when they play hard. It gave! j T the methods and machinery with which to organize social play. Iti j j shoved us a vision of directed, socialized, educative amusement. j The lessons, machinery and vision may be -aved if we bestir our-j j j selves In time. !j That the schools were roused from sleepy isolation and their i . J plant, staff and pupils made to play a great part in national life in j j time of desperate emergency is the greatest educational advance of;1 J j this generation. Only devoted, conscious care will preserve and; ; add to that advance. The reconstruction armies that will salvage these gains and defend in time of peace the victories gained by the war will have as great need for able leadership, trained strategists and unselfish, patriotic devotion as was required by any armv that crossed the ( I Atlantic. |