The following editorial appeared in the Dec. 24, 1956, edition of the Concord Daily Monitor.
The saying goes: “Peace on Earth to men of good will.” This Christmas time men of good will are once again inspired to spread their doctrine. That they enjoy peace is only partially true. For men of evil are still very much abroad upon this Earth, and the great growth of international interdependence prevents the enjoyment of peace in isolation.
There are very real signs, however, that men of good will are prevailing over the elements of evil. The worldwide reactions of so many in so many lands to Communist oppression of the Hungarians and the use of force in Egypt provide evidence of a mounting sense of international morality. So does the nearness to unanimity displayed by the 80 nations now members of the United Nations assembly in their resolves and actions, especially the creation of the first truly world police force designed to enforce peace.
Were there genuine peace no police force would be necessary. The way is yet hard, however, and so thoughts of peace are tempered as the anniversary of the birth of Christ is observed once more. Such thoughts contain less of desperation than they have more recently. They contain more of hope and resolution, and a greater degree of flexibility in the consideration of ways and means of extending the areas of good will.
In this century in which the first world wars of all time have been fought man has actually made more progress in many ways than in all the rest of recorded time put together. Many of the evils which have beset men have been overcome. His superstitions have been drastically reduced. The foes of plague and famine have been dealt staggering setbacks. Tolerance has made great strides. The haves have helped the have-nots as never before across the boundaries of national groups. The barriers of race and creed have also been reduced, though they are still far from elimination. Trade on this earth was never freer.
These achievements often are obscured by obsession with the details of the evils which remain or the areas of challenge to men of good will which are yet to be conquered. There is no end to the good which man can do, or so it seems.
Yet the man of good will has no need to feel discouraged this Christmas season. The world of his worst enemies is crumbling. For the first time it can no longer be considered impregnable. Good will has invaded it, seeping through the seems of the iron curtain and rushing through the souls of the tormented there-in. A new order of Lilliputians is binding up the giant of evil.
At home Americans have a remarkable degree of peace. There are no soldiers stationed along our borders to protect us from our nearest neighbors. The trust we have in each other has permitted the creation of a phenomenal economy. We travel freely anywhere in our land. There is no secret police force to harass us. We worship as we individually wish.
This heritage which we have tried to mold upon Christian concepts is not yet perfect. Encouraged by the progress we have made, however, the hope for even greater peace among men runs strong this Christmas. The spirit of Christmas, which not even crass commercialism can obscure, will help to renew our devotion to the further establishment of peace upon this earth.