The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-31

mon task holds the people together, a
task with no definite and tangible end
nor yet any special victory or triumph
to look forward to, but rather a task
which is fulfilled at each moment,
which has its meaning not in any re-
suit but in the doing, it's accomplish
ment not in any event which may be-
fall, but only in the Brightness OF the
motive. To be an American means to
cooperate in perpetuating the spirit of
self-direction throughout the body po-
little; and whatsoever does not feel this
duty and actively respond to it. al
though perhaps a naturaliZed citizen of
the land, remains an alien forever"
PHILISTINISM OUR SIN.
The darker result of this spirit, the
ESSENTIAL weakness of such democ-
racy, 'is the Importance it assigns to
the average man with his petty opin-
ions, which are sometimes right and
sometimes wrong; his total lack of
comprehension for all that is great
and EXCEPTIONAL his self-satisfied dilet-
tanteism, and his complacency before
the accredited and trite in thought"
Not lawlessness, then, is our danger,
but a Grass philistinism. DR.. Munster
berg is not the first to whisper-or
shout-this home truth into our ear.
Self-initiative-say colloquially, If
not accurately, enterprise-Dr- Mum
sterberg believes to be the chief ele-
ment in our economic rise, the essen
tiaI factor, rather than the richness of
the lands natural resources. Our in
teIlectual life is governed by two tend
encies; first, Puritan idealism-that is,
culture viewed from the moral rather
than the aesthetic or intellectual point
of view; second, utilitarianism. There
is not space to discuss the very inter
esting chapter on this topic, nor upon
the still more valuable chapter on self
assertion, the essential spirit of our
social life. But from the latter pas
sage on equality tempts a final quota
ton. DIR. Munsterberg finds that the
A Of fc nt nr11x
effective in political life, but, despite
superficial signs, in our social life as
well. Now this sentiment of equality
he finds to be Independent of the
moral theory, of the ethics of the New
Testament. Neither is it a meta
physical conception, nor is it nationally
humanitarian. "It is a question ac-
tually of this one social community
living together in the United States
ana having to regulate its social af-
fairs And DR.. Munsterberg likens it
to a group of similarly employed good
friends on an excursion, who, for the
sake of diversion, agree to represent
various human occupations-one to
play millionaire, another beggar, and
so on. Strange as it may sound this
feeling is at the bottom of social life
"All of us who inhabit this incon-
parable country are at bottom COM
radeS One commands and
the other obeys, but with a mutual un-
to be the most appropriate distribution
OF functions under the circumstances
in which We happen to be placed"
EQUALITY IN AMERICA.
To follow DR.. Munsterberg's exceed
fngly suggestive and plausible discus
sion upon thi SSubject of self-assertion
and its social and individual consequent
ces is not possible here, and the hint
of his observations given should be ex-
banded by reference to the book itself
Whether or not his argument convince
Will depend upon the readers temper
and experience since 1t is of course.
not susceptible of proof. But that It
contains good deal of truth is be-
yond doubt.
1.-THE Americans" contains a good
deal of matter of no value to Ameri-
can readers, since It is information of
familiar facts for uninstructed readers.
And, as will be plain, even to the read
er OF this brief reference many of DR.
Munsterberg's observations and the
cries are by no means new to us. But
their reaffirmation is significant and
his book as a whole deserves the
thoughtful attention of American read
ers.
Perhaps the chief criticism that is to
be brought against DR.. Munsterberg is
that he is obviously under the opinion
still prevalent in Cambridge, that the
New England individual and social
ideals and characteristics continue to
dominate almost exclusively and al
most in pristine power the general life
of the people. Without denying the
persistence of the New England Ameri-
can fdeals-the individualism of Emer-
son for example-in American life. it
should be brought to DR.. Munster
bergS attention that dininution in
their influence is considerable, outside
counter tendencies in the country at
large. His views would have had a
greater validity a generation ago.
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