The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-09

The Tendency Toward Materialfsm.
The Saturday Evening Post" journal
which is apparently given over to the wor-
ship Of success in all forms, whether 1t be
in poetry or canned beef, sends out a little
advance sheet in which two paragraphs ap-
pear in significant juxtaposition. One con-
tains an account Of the various methods
employed by dishonest customers in beat
ing" wholesale houses. Immediately fol-
on the future Of the nation, which begins
with the statement that lofty sense OF
national honor is Indispensable.
or course, the accidental proximity OF
these two paragraphs In the advance sheet
OF q paper does not mean anything. but the
following sentence, taken from the latter
paragraph. does:
at will be a sorrowful day for us when we
permit romantic tradition and diluted whey
OF sentiment TO take the place Of sieadfast cour
age and unhesitating business enterprise in max
ing the most of the opportunities for national
prosperity opened up by our recent splendid
achievements in war and diplomacy"
Considering the numerous eulogies and
anecdotes of Mr. Rockefeller. Mr.. Armour,
and other trust magnates which have ap-
peared In the pages Of the Post" this
statement is certainly straw which shows
which way the wind blows. One OF the
most unpleasant phenomena of the present
day is the clever advertising of capitalists
and their ideals by magazines and news
papers ostensibly devoted to general cul-
ture. When a political editorial appears
the public is prepared to find it partisan. |
But the more subtle influence of the illus |
trated magazine is not so easily detected. |
j. is also stronger and more pervasive.
Take such a paper as the Saturday |
Evening POST for example. 1t caters |
especially to the demand of what we may |
call the middle classes for interesting and
instructive reading. 1t publishes each |
week poems and stories by popular au-
thors. 1t also publishes a collection of
portraits of prominent people. 1t holds UP
for the admiration OF the reader the man
who has made money-it makes little diff |
ference how he has made it. 1t prints ar
ticles on How TO get on in business" Its
whole influence is directed toward building
up plutocratic ideal in the readers mind. |
The youthful subscriber will instantly get |
the idea that to make money in any line
of work is the most desirable OF all mum |
dane things No attention is paid to the i'm |
portant duty of doing good work. whether |
the money comes in or not The man who |
sacrifices his career to an ideal is not eulo- |
gized. His story is not profitable" read |
ing for inpressionable young people. They
are to be taught to be cautious, not chival-
rous; wise. not independent: and honest |
because honesty is the best policy-a prov
sometimes inclined to doubt. Finally, the
natural outcome OF all this. We have a
like that which is quoted above,
that "unhesitating business en-
the Standard Oil type
must now take the place of romantic
tradition" and sentiment" in our ma
tional life. There is grave reason to
view, this is likely to be the best for the
nation in the end. But whether it is or
not, do we want to exclude ideals, emo
lions, sentiment, from our patriotism? Is
hat patriotism TO be expressed solely by a
sreenback? Which is the flag to mean In
he future. freedom or organized seryility?
Are .steadfast courage and unhesitating
business enterprise" all that We need in
rational character? The religion of Con-
ucius is full of good business maxims, and
here is no better man Of business. accord
ng to his lights than the Chinaman But ,
he difference between the Chinese and the ,
apanese people today is that the one has
70 ideals to speak Of and the latter is full ,
them. The life of old Japan is informed.
ermeated. inspired by ideals of one kind
r another. That Of China is materialistic. 7
here is an object lesson in the Orient for I
s 10 study However subtly and skillfully t
xpressed, however bolstered up by as v
umptiors of caution and wisdom. the doc a
rine that economic rather than moral d
uestions must now be made paramount in
lr public policy il dangerous one. Pub 4