The Citizens Journal (Atlanta, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 25, 1947 Page: 4 of 44
forty four eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 16 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
■
lUBBi
ist:
THB CITOEN8 JOURNAL, ATLANTA, CASH COUNTY, TEXAS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25. 1947
Americanism
Continued from page 6
pansion is thought by our best in-
formed leaders to be the world'B
major problem.
The conditions which encourage
the program of Russian expansion
at this particular time are obvious
The ravages of war have left many
Bectons an easy prey to pillage and
conquest. No better time to prac-
tice the policy of soak the rich and
grab all you can for yourself, than
when people are discouraged, hope-
less and hungry. Then, too, the
faults and failures of existing gov-
ernments serve their purpose well.
Here, then is the Number 1 "Peril
to Freedom" throughout the world
How to meet it is the issue which
challenges Christians in all lands.
Denouncing their system, inveigh-
ing against their program and
practice will not suffice. Here, as
everywhere, we must overcome evil
with good.
Our task is two-fold—"Keep the
world," as much of it as we can,
"safe for democracy," and "keep
democracy safe for the world." We
will help the state to do the one
and the church in doing the other.
They both have the same objective
but use different methods. The
state must exercise authority and
if need be use force; while the
church must rely upon the voice of
persuasion and the appeal to rea-
son. The pattern for this twin pro-
gram is set forth by the Master—
"Render unto Caesar the things
that are Caesar's and unto God the
things that are God's."
Let us then as subjects of the
greatest nation of all time and sol-
diers of the greatest captain that
ever led men to conquest, rally to
both the stars and stripes and to
the blood stained banner of the
Prince of Peace inspired by an un-
faltering faith in the ultimate
triumph of right over wrong.
The guarantee of final victory is
in the principle revealed to liab-
akkuk in the long ago:
"Behold his soul which is puffed
up, is not upright within him; but
the lightest shall lve by his faith." being lost in the group. Mass pro-
A nation tnxilt upon blood can- duction is here, and here to stay,
not stand. A civilization that sur- (Gandhi with his spinning wheel to
vives by enslaving its people can- the contrary notwithstanding.) The
not endure. There must be an ele- days of rugged individualism such
ment of righteousness and justice; (,-\s obtained in piorfeer times can-
a' degree of correctness and up-
rightness in any system that
abides. God's plumbline fortells
the doom of whatever is lacking in
this essential requirement: "Un-
less God builds the civilization they
labor in vain who buld it."
The record of the past has its
voice of assurance. Many rivals
have arisen to challenge the claim
of Him who said: "I am the true
way of life." But in one way or an-
other, each of them has been forc-
ed to confess with Julian, the apos
tate: "Oh, Galilean thou hast con-
quered."
In the words of E. Stanley Jones
"The carpenter of Nazareth, af-
ter nineteen hundred years, is still
making coffins for dictators."
Make no mistake about it. The
surest way to check the spread of
atheistic communism is to foster
the growth and improve the qual
ity of existing democracies.
Keeping Democracy
Safe for the World—
But making and keeping demo-
cracy safe for the world is our su-
preme task. Our country, the very
cradle of freedom, is being invaded
by termites from without and
threatened by hurtful tendencies
from within.
The Freedom Train, filled with
its historic documents, speaks to
us not only of the cost of freedom
—its benefits and blessings, but
warns us of the dangers which
threaten it.
The eleven million dollars recent
ly voted by Congress to enable the
President to ferret out subversive
agents in government positions is
another indication of uneasiness.
He who runs may read the signs
which remind us that our so-called
Americanism is on trial in our
swiftly changing world. "New oc-
casions teach" not only new duties
but new ways to life.
Collectivism is now having its
day. The individual is everywhere
nut be recalled. How to profit by
collectivism and enjoy the benefits
and blessings of mass production
and distribution and at the same
time maintain those conditions con
ducive to the growth and security
of the individual s America's su-
preme industrial problem. Ulti
mately, the foundation of a demo-
cracy is the quality of the people
rather than the quantity of pro-
duction.
In politics, we have two diver-
gent groups, viz: Those who want,
little or no government interfer-
ence in private enterprise—(Liai-
sez-Faire) let us alone. The others
advocate government regulation
and supervision to an ever increas
ing degree. This reached a new
high under the "New Deal" regime
Either group, if left unrestrained,
would prove fatal to freedom, hurt
ful to democracy. Our safety here
is in the hands of the "Independ-
ent Voter," hence his tribe should
be strengthened, increased and en-
couraged. The schools and colleges
the church and service clubs can
render freedom no greater service
than to teach and inspire voters
to put the public good, the general
welfare above party loyalty.
Whenever any administration,
whether it's leaning is left or right
perpetuates itself in office by ca-
tering to certain groups and blocs
by favorable legislation or special
concessions, it makes a travesty of
democracy and invites revolution.
At such times the independent vo-
ter saves the day by ordering a
change in administration. Our
chief concern then, as friends of
good government, is to create polit
ical power rather than champion
political parties.
Look ye next at the tension be-
tween capital and labor. This sore
spot in our industrial system is a
menace to democracy; hence a chal
lenge to all "freedom-loving" Am-
ericans. "Big business" frequently
complains that the church is veer-
ing too much to the left—that its
leaders are championing socialism;
while at the same time organized
labor is continually sayng: "The
church is merely the oppologist of
Big Business." As friends of fair
play, champions of good will, our
attitude here must be in the clear.
We are neither pro-capital nor pro
labor, but pro-the golden rule. Our
role is that of of an impartial um-
pire who dares call an error
against one team as readily as
against the other. (Incidentally,
the Press should do the same.)
We need, however, to keep ever
in mind, that always and every-
where, it is the personal element
that means most. Just as the great
est peril to freedom loving people
throughout the world is the decline
and decadency of existing demo-
cracies (a tragic fact); so the
greatest menace to democracy at
home is the lack of a virile citizen-
ship to feed the springs of politi-
cal freedom. We are prone to ex-
agerate the importance of political
overhead and constitutional ar-
rangement and to forget that th
indispensable foundation of a dem-
ocracy is found in the character
and attitude of the people. The tap
root of a republic is found in the
moral stamina and religious con-
viction of its subjects. "If the foun
dations be destroyed," what can
the champions of freedom do?
It was the desire and the deter-
mination of the founder of our
Republic to give the pattern of gov
ernment outline in our Constitu-
tion a fair trial that made certain
its success.
And it was the lack of this type
of undergirding that doomed the
League of Nations to innocuous de
suetude.
If it be true that the "Chief
business of a Republic is the manu
facture of souls of good quality"
then we, as a nation, should rally
to this supreme task.
Not a few well to do parents hin
der rather than help their children
by doing for them what they
should find necessary to do for
themselves. There is sound sense
in John Wannamaker's saying: All
the capital a boy needs is a healthy
body, trained mind, and good hab-
its. What is more is of doubtful
value. There are those who believe
our government is guilty of the
same folly practiced by indulgent
parents.
Henry C. Link contends that we
cannot continue to substitute social
paternalism for personal responsi-
bility, government subsidies for pri
vate initiative, the principle of the
redistribution of wealth for the
creation of wealth without weaken
ing the character and undermining
the personality of the people.
Be that as it may, one thing is
crystal clear. If the group who say
"the government owes me a living
and must guarantee me a job or
I'll go on relief" continues to in-
crease, democracy is on the way
out and serfdom will take its place
Under feudalism men sought se-
curity and protection by becoming
the vassal of some liego or lord.
The same principle may be practic
ed today by swapping personal re-
sponsibility for social security.
Each of us have two major tasks
—making a living and making a
life. The one—making a living is
the most important factor in mak-
ing a life. If we would save demo-
cracy and thereby insure freedom
we must make the citadel of "man-
soul" the rampart we guard with
greatest care. Here, as everywhere
in the words of Carlyle: "Get your
man and all is got."
O'Farreil News
Services at the O'Farreil Baptist
church were well attended this
week end. We thank God for the
52 we had in SS the last 2 Sundays
This is something unusual to have
the same number in SS 2 Sundays
It makes us rejoice not to lose in
number. Let's not be satisfied —
let's grow in the Lord's work. How
many can we have in SS Sunday?
Visitors in Mr. and Mrs. Rob
Richardson home, Sunday, were
Mr. and Mrs. Norris Olan Ward,
Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Smith of Tex-
arkana.
Visitors in Mr. and Mrs. J. W
Clayton home Sunday afternoon
were Mr. and Mrs. Isadore Griffin,
Webb Clayton, Reba Joyce and
Bobbie.
Doyle Land spent Sunday with
Lois Walls of Piney Grove.
Mrs. Homer Washington was brot
home from EM hospital, Friday
night. Glad to report she is improv
ing nicely from minor operation.
Misses Estelle and Josephine
Richardson spent Sunday with Ora
Land.
Glad to report Mrs. R. W. Hayes
Mrs. Rob Richardson's mother, im
proving at her son's home, after
spending a week in Brooks Clinic.
Visitors in Mr. and Mrs. E, J.
Lummus home over the week end
were Mr. and Mrs. Junior Lummus
of Douglassville, Miss Louise Lum
mus of Linden.
Mr. and Mrs. H. TV Clayton and
son visited Mrs. Homer Washing-
ton, Sunday afternoon.
Miss Irene Pate spent awhile
Sunday afternoon with her sister,
Mrs. Frank Camp.
Miss Oneita Sutton spent Mon-
day night with Miss Ruby Faye
Richardson.
Little Elouise Camp is still sick.
She is to go back to Texarkana,
Tuesday for examination and xray
We wish for her a speedy recov-
ery that she may soon be back in
school.
Mr. and Mrs. Hicks, Charles &
Jenitte spent Sunday in Mr. and
Mrs. Odell Thedford home.
Mr. Betts is recovering nicely
from his recent operation. He is at
his son's home at Daingerfield.
Charles Erba Land spent Sun-
day with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lum
mus. Afternoon callers were Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Lummus of Mid-
way.
Mr. and Mrs. Webb Clayton were
supper guests of their son Mr. and
Mrs. J. W. Clayton, Friday night.
Alton Clark of Texas City is
home for Christmas holidays.
Alvin Richardson is expecting
his mother of Florida to visit them
during the holidays.
Remember this week end is reg
ular preaching day at the Metho-
dist church. Put forth an effort to
be in worship service for the Lord
this week end.
REMOVED FREE
Within 40 MOm
DEAD HORSES, COWS,
AND CRIPPLES
Texarkana Rendering Plant
Phone 888-W (Phone Collect)
If no answer, phone S158-R
NEW
DAY
is NOT
ALWAYS
JANUARY
1 ST.
mmm
We can tell you how to protect
your business against loss due to
plate glass breakage and other
accidents. See us today for full
coverage on your business prop-
erty.
%
my Ch*istmaL *
y CHRISTMAS
chwst%A
• «
Once again we welcome the op-
portunity of sending along our
GREETINGS to the many friends
throughout the area we serve. If
we have been of service to you
during the past year, we have
achieved, in a small measure, the
goal planned a year ago.
Please accept our sincere best
SEASON'S GREETINGS. May
your Christmas be a happy one.
IN ATLANTA, ITS
ALLDAY'S
ATLANTA, TEXAS
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Harrell, D. P. The Citizens Journal (Atlanta, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 25, 1947, newspaper, December 25, 1947; Atlanta, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth348193/m1/4/: accessed July 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Atlanta Public Library.