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That could apply to America today. We are in a moral slump and 

 that moral slump is the basis of our economic slump. When we get 

 right morally and take our true place and assume our responsibilities 

 towards the other nations of the world, we will begin to come up again 

 in an economic way. We have all been struck with amazement at the 

 splendid results obtained from one step in that direction this gift of 

 twenty million dollars to Russia that already has started the price of 

 corn and other agricultural products going up. Why not take some more 

 steps? It is time for us to sound a new note. It is time for us to say 

 the spirit that denominated this country during the war and made us not 

 only the material leader but the spritual leader of the world, must come 

 back. 



Our ambassador to France, Myron Herrick, in a recent issue of the 

 Chicago Tribune made an excellent statement on that very point. Do not 

 say "Out here in Monmouth, out here in Illinois we haven't much influence 

 in the world." We have an influence on the world. Not only the words we 

 utter but the thoughts we think have an influence in the world. You know 

 how confused and upset mentally the world has been ever since the war 

 was over. Hardly any class of our population has been normal, either in 

 action or in thoughts, and thought comes before action. If we get right 

 mentally we will get right otherwise. 



FOREIGN MARKETS MEAN PROSPERITY. 



The only obstacles America has today are mental and spiritual ones. 

 As I said at the start, we are surrounded at every side by more of wealth 

 not only than any nation ever saw, but than we know what to do with. 

 I hear men gravely saying, "If you sell this food to Europe what would 

 you get for it? We don't want any more gold, we don't want any other 

 manufactured products, to compete with the products of our factories." 

 Some of our so called leaders talk as though we all had softening of the 

 brain. Better have a little softening of the heart and a little clarifying of 

 the brain. If we would do that our material difficulties would take wings 

 and speedily fly away. We have every material advantage in the world. 

 We are the only nation in that favored condition. And I sometimes fancy 

 that over in Europe, when they see us rolling in plenty while they starve, 

 that they must think that to call us a dog in the manger would be to 

 flatter us. I have sometimes feared that a sight I once saw on the farm 

 would be the picture they might select as being more nearly typical of 

 us. I saw an old sow go up to a trough, eat all she could and then climb 

 in and lie down, so that none of the rest of them could get anything. 



But I don't think that is going to be what they will say about us now, 

 for I hope and trust that we have started on a new track. We have actually 

 given away twenty million dollars worth of stuff that we bad no use for. 

 It doesn't sound very magnificient; it doesn't sound very heroic; it doesn't 

 sound very generous, but it is an improvement on anything we had been 

 doing for some time previously. It is a step in the right direction. I 

 believe we are going to show enough intelligence to sell on credit such of 

 our surpluses as cannot be sold for cash. And if we find any nation 

 actually starving that is unable to give us good security I believe we will 

 have enough decency and business foresight to give them what they need 

 and we have no possible use for. 



Now let us, the plain, common people of this country, the sovereigns 

 of this country insist upon this policy let us talk it, let us think it, let us 

 feel it. There is a power in feeling that is greater than any power in 

 matter. We can start currents of emotion and currents of thought that 

 will roll up tidal waves until they reach Washington and from Washington 

 they will roll out to bless the world. 



Our task of feeding the world was not finished when the armistice 

 was signed. There is an inglorious period between that time and the 

 present. But I believe that the America that we believe in is going to 

 take a new inspiration from this hour that we are going to gird our loins 



