The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-02
DIR. VAN DYKE ON DEMOCRACY.
Eloquent Speech Which Was Well
Received by Hearers.

Eloquent Speech Which Was Well
Received by Hearers.
Chicago, April 1.-Studebaker Hall was
filled tonight, the occasion being the
quarterly convocation exercises of the
University OF Chicago The address of the
evening was delivered by Rev. Henry Van
Dyke, D. D., of New York, his subjec,
being Democratic Culture"
The eloquent divine made a most favor
able impression upon his audience, AMI
was frequently interrupted by outbursts
of applause.
His address was as follows:
by Democracy we mean not a fixed
theory Of the state, nor particular form
of government. We mean a tendency a
spirit a current of ideas and aspira lions.
II is a sense not of the actual equality
OF all men as a fact, but of their poten-
tial equality as a hope IL is the en-.
deavor to realize this hope, not by the
concentration of power in the hands of a
few, but by the diffusion of power In the
hands of the many. These, il seems 10
me, are some of the notes of true De-
mocracy as we see Il working out It's
salvation with fear and trembling in our
own country. Now as regards this fear
and trembling, let us acknowledge frank
ly that they are not without reason, while
at the same time we maintain that they
are perfectly consistent with the most firm
and loyal faith. We believe tina,
Democracy is right: that it will
triumph in the end; that the
magnificent experiment which is now IN
progress In our country will result in a
splendid success. But we are not uncon-
scious of certain Inconvenience which at
tend the experimental stage; nor ought we
10 be careful of certain dangers which
threatened to delay our national advance
and possibly to divert it from its true
course so widely that we may be forced
into one of those periods Of reaction, by
which a nation that has too hastily fol-
lowed false lead returns upon its course
In order to get a fresh start.
But in our material prosperity. our
rapid advance in mechanical inventions
and the arts of life, the wide diffusion of
what the old divinHs called Creature COM
forts and in the consequent gocd-humor
and self-complacency which prevail among
the different classes of society, lies one Of
our greatest perils. We are in danger of
making too much of these things. and i'm
agining that there is something perma-
uent and stable about them. We are in
clined 10 introduce / believe in machinery
as an article of our creed. and to suppose
l.
self before the Judge of the Universe with
new kind of sewing machine, or an i'm
proved telephone, or a rapid fire gun to he
crowned at once with glory, and receiv-
ed into the kingdom of heay-
en-. We are tempted to rely
upon our physical prosperity, our wealth
our industrial advance, as a pledge of Sc
curity and to adopt policy of letting tho
more important things take care of them
selves.
Thus it comes to pass that tone OF
airy earelessness peryades our noliticaI
life. Large powers are suffered to fan
into the hands of small and ineomDetent
men. Our city governments sneak win
various broguss. We receive without dis
elimination and almost without Thought
the miscellaneous hordes of immiprants
who are poured upon our shores. our ma
tional digestion is powerful. but there is n
point at which it may break down. and If
is serious question whether tho sigDs
of political and social dyspepsia are NOT
already apparent. A Democracy faIline
into the hands of those who do NOT unde,.
stand what 1t means, nor at heart believa
IN It, swiftly transforms itself into a ,vr-
amy, or into an anarchy. A republic
must have moral and intellectual COM
dauons. The corner stone of Democracy
Is culture. Culture must begin and con-
uhue win me disregard of pecuniarv
returns. 1t must be catholic. genial al
interested. Its object is to make ths
shoemaker go beyond his last. and tba
clerk beyond his desk, and the survevor
beyond his chain. and the lawyer bevord
his brief, and the doctor beyond his nr,..
scription' and the preacher beyond his ser.
mon. ~
What we need at present is not nau
colleges with power of comforting de.
Sress' out more power in the existing col.
IeSes 10 make men. To this end let then,
have richer endowment a fuller eonin.
ment, but above all a revival of the cres.
tive ideal. And let everything be done r,
bring together the high school. the MOI.
NAL school the grammar school the pri
mary school, and the little-red-scbooi
house school, in the harmony of this ideal
The university shall stiI stand in tn.
pace Of honor if you Will, but only be
cause IT bears the clearest and most stead
fast witness that the end of culture is ~
create men who can see clearly, imagin,
nobly, and think steadily
THE salvation Of democracy lies in tn,
POSSESSION Of such men. Popular dlscon
tent comes chiefly from want OF power
20 see the beauty and interest of life. a.
the world, OF the simplest things IN theh
natural charm. Nature-lovers are seldom
mob-leaders. Glass hatred the arroganc,
or the newly rich, the stupid. bluuderin,
crueltes OF those who grind the faces o
tne poor arise where the faculty of imag.
NATIVE sympathy has been smothered IL
me Grass atmosphere OF commerclallsm
Foli'lcal manias and financial lunacles ant