The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-26
Freedom. Education, md Equality.

Freedom. HAAA
II it were not for certain basic emotions
to which the American nature responds
with pronptness which is positive proof
that they exist. one might sometimes doubt
whether there is any such thing as typical
American civilization. Certain people who
had been saying there was not, were aston
ished a little more than two years ago to
discover how swift was the answer 70 any
call to maintain the honor of the flag, and
secure freedom to a suffering and OPP
pressed people. Freedom-individual, ra-
ciaI. national freedom-is shib-
boleth to every American. Education
the opportunity to gain such knowledge as
is necessary to make the best of ones self
is another word to which the average
American responds. There is also certain
impatience with the caste spirit, the rele-
CATION of man to his plane" which is
thoroughly American.
But these three principles-liberty, en-
lghtenment democracy-are firmly rooted
in the mind Of the people, and it will take
more than three generations to pull them
I'd. Even then it might be found that
inmate in their turn and cause trouble in
the subversion of the rights of the people.
What we need at present. however, is
a general enlightenment Of the public 91
the nature Of these principles as applied TO
practical life. In the case Of the first. 1t
| should be realized that the only true fee
! dom is the freedom of the entire commun-
/ ity. and every individual member in 1t. It
/ is not proper to allow giant corporations
/ TO fasten their claws upon the whole popu-
/ Iation. under pretence that restriction of
their freedom is unconstitutional Liberty
Of the individual is not simply the liberty
Of half dozen millionaires to do as they
choose.
Democracy also means Industrial free
dom. the possibility of every mans attain
ing any place for which he can fit himself,
without regard to his previous condition.
The matter Of social democracy will have
to settle itself; that is a moral not
political question. and has nothing to do
with franchises. labor unions. or artificial
restriction of a mans choice of a liveli-
hood It is for the good Of the Republic
that every man in it should be doing the
work for which he is best fitted, for only
in that way can the full strength Of the
population be utilized; and the less social
considerations are mixed up with trade
and political relations the better 1t will
be- No man should be given any kind Of
employment simply because he happens to
be relative Of the wife Of the man who
holds the appointing power. There is a
mercial as well as political matters, and
it is bad.
Enlightenment moreover. means some
thing very different from mere book
knowledge and here is a matter in which
the average man is in the dark. He is
/ tempted to overlook the fact that the ulti-
mate aim Of education is to increase the
usefulness OF the educated one. and that if
it does not do this il is a failure. There is
too much ambition and too little thorough
ness in this Republic. People are too in
tent upon having. and not attentive enough
to the question of doing. 1t has not yet
been generally recognized that the only
reason for material development is the pro-
motion Of spiritual development, and that
Il q man has q dozen fine houses, yacht,
a private theatre, and a symphony orches-
ira all his own, and does not appreciate
these things and make them minister in
some way to the welfare OF others be
might as well be savage running about
. the jungle with a club. for all the good
the things have done him. Therefore Il
comes about that those who make. con-
T triye, execute. are continually overlapping
those who merely possess; and great for
tunes go to pieces In three generations.
and no plutocracy can endure. The man
who has skill in his brain and fingers, who
is master of two or three trades, and
knows human nature, is more civilized than
the mere possessor of any number OF mill
lions Education therefore, is not merely
learning to appreciate material blessings;
it IS. first and foremost, instruction which
viii enable the pupil to make the most OF
what he has.