Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-09-24
OBSERVATIONS.
Ian MacLaren's Criticism of Ameri-
can Life.

kdli IllOt
The American people are as a rule
very loath to give favorable consldera-
ton to any criticism passed upon them
and especially is this true If the critic
chances to be a foreigner No matter
what motives prompt the natives of
other countries to point out what they
consider weaknesses or mistakes in
our individual or national life, We usu-
ally treat their criticisms with sever
ity or supreme contempt | am per-
suaded that in doing this we have kept
ourselves behind to a great many
needed reforms, one of which has late
ly been indicated in amost friendly way
by foreigner, whose views upon 9TH
er matters usually call forth a hearty
response from the American heart. l
hope his kindly word of warning will
be accepted in the same spirit in which
it was spoken, for it is indeed a need
ed word If any are inclined to resent
rather than profit by it they should
learn that the assumption that we are
far in advance of and much superior
in every way to any other nation in the
world is simply a reproduction of an
cient sentiment and undue self-glorif-
cation upon American soil, and that If
carried to the same extreme it will in
evitably lear exactly the same kind of
fruit lheir persistent refusal
to give ear to earnest criti-
cisms and warnings resulted
in the wreck OF many nations
that once fourlshed upon the earth
and we should learn from the exper-
fences OF others.
That we are a great nation and that
we are unequaled in certain very hon
orable walks if life is, l think, quite
universally granted. Any one who has
made careful study of our achieve
ments must admit that we are very
alert and progressive people, and that
in any great crisis we have thus far
proven ourselves equal to the occas-
sion. But if our achievements prompt
us to act upon the assumption that we
now have nothing to learn from the
mistakes or successes of other people,
either ancient or modern, those very
achievements will become one of our
greatest perils.
Paradoxical as it seems, we all know
that exceptional material prosperity
has proven the ruin of many a man,
and nations should not forget that they
are not exempt from the operation of
that very same law.
Coming to see facts more clearly
ly than l once saw them, l am dispos-
ed to heed criticisms which once l
would have despised, and so while in
sisting upon the business of the claim
that in some directions we are un-
equaled in commendable achievements,
| nevertheless give serious heed to any
wise voice that may be raised in warn
ing or for the purpose of instruction,
uO matter rum what ludI lSl II IOlAV9'
We are all justly proud of the faith
ers who laid the foundation of our
national life and greatness. 1t is easy
for us to assent to Longfellow's state
ment that
God had sifted three Kingdoms to find
the seed for this planting,
Then had sifted the wheat, as the liv-
ing seed of a nation"
They had their faults We know, but
they were nevertheless men of iron
nerve to true occasions true and they
laid the national foundation with such
care and put so much of conscience in
to 1t that a superstructure which IS the
amazement of the modern world has
with safety been built thereon. But
Just now when we are much inclined
to give way to a larger extent than or
binary to self-adulation a foreign trav-
eler who gladly gives us much credit
in many ways, very gravely tells us
Il. ere is a dark shadow hanging over
American life. This shadow, he says,
lis the strength of the secular spirit"
In other words, if the observations of
our friend, Ian Maclaren, are in keep
ing with the facts, we have grown over
worldly and like ancient Israel, are
much inclined to put material esu-
mate upon everything, not excepting
the services of the sanctuary If we
cannot figure out that it has been of
value to us in dollars and cents to OBJ
serve the ordinances of the church,
then ther are many who hastily con-
clude that there is no justification for
uhei robservance. What profit is IT.?
they inquire and they expect the ans
wer to be given in the terms familiar
to the commercial world. Maclaren
very wisely modifies his criticism by
saying that he is not to be understood
as "depreclating the spirit of enter
prise which has done so much to de-
velop business an dto advance civiliza-
tiOn, nor as denying the right of ev-
cry man to receive a due reward for
his labor, or to reap the profit of his
foresight"
He adds further that, IF a man
works in any department of activity.
whether with his head or with his
hands he Is entitled to ask his wages