The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-10
SUNDAY. APRIL 10, 1895.
National Ideals.


There is something particularly beau
tiful and inspiring about Eastertide.
il is a time for the renewing Of life. for
the Teawakening Of ideals, for new
thoughts and pure emotions. The new
sap which flows in the veins of trees
and flowers seems to have a counter
part in the quickening life of human
beings. 1t was a dim recognition of
this which made tire old Saxon festival
Of Eostre, Goddess of Spring. a reality,
and the Christian church transformed
this festival into Easter, as it did that
OF Yule into Christmas
Most people have had ideals at some
time in their lives. and tried to live up
TO those ideals more or less intelligent
~ II is only very matter-of-fact per
sons who deny the fact that dreams
that is. ideas and, according to
some people, iIlusions-have played a
very large part in the affairs Of this
world: that. in fact. the handspring of
human progress is an intangible. invis-
fble spirit which works in very strange
WAYS and places, but always to one
end: the uplifting OF the human race
The ideals of personal goodness and
wisdom are flashes Of this universal
spirit. The ideals Of national truth,
justice, honor, are due TO its Ilumina-
ton. Sometimes there is a symbol by
which the ideal may be depressed for a
time. and thaC symbol, worthless in it
self. becomes the proof Of the power of
a dream. Why did the Crusader march
gladly under the sign OF the cross? Be
cause il meant 10 him power to which
he owed all that was worthiest and
best in himself and his nation Why do
men dare death and torture to plant
their flag on the ramparts Of a hostile
fort2 Why does the sight Of the Stars
and Stripes in a foreign land cause an
American 10 stop in the street and take
of his hat2 Because a dream. an ideal
is mole powerful than fact. There
are times when human nature fails to
respond 10 the ideal. and sees only the
fact. when dollars are more than hon
OF and truth and justice; when personal
comfort is more than Independence of
thoughl. when fear Of want brushes
our manhood. There have been people
who have attempted to make an ideal
out q the love Of money. but they have
failed. II has come 10 the point where
The American nation must choose be-
tween the true national ideal free man
hood. and the sham ideal OF the green
back. il is for the people to decide
whether the symbol under which we
are To live is the starry banner which
means freedom. or the tape Of the stock
ton Of shopkeepers and slaves This
IS not question with which partisan
ship has anything 10 do. Men may and
must differ on questions affecting the
government Of the country. but they
may sim keep one common ideal Of
patriotism and free government. So
long as this world lasts there viii be
differences. and they VIII have 10 be
argued out But there is no room in
the American ideal FOR government by
the stock market That is too himsy a
material for the making OF a nation.
II We are TO be a real nation We must
have a national ideal. and IL that ideal
IS 10 run no higher than the successful
speculstor-if the highest ambition Of
the American boy is TO be man OF un-
limited dollsrs-God help the American
people, for they viii be a race COM
pounded Of the fox, the tiger and the
ehipmunki
A War Month