New-York tribune., 1905-01-07
Nfw-roRK DAILY TRIBUNE SATURDAY JANUARY I. 1905

In the spirit Of sport: the pleasure is in the
fight ''The chess player who is checkmated in
an exciting game is sorry that he played
and does not envy the winner" but rather seeks
another opportunity 10 demonstrate his own
ability under different condlu ons. This gives
rise TO the spirit of optimism " hich is necessary
for the undertaking OF great enterprises. and
where the tendency OF such enterprises is toward
monopoly II is met by the absolute demand for
open competition the part OF the great mass
OF the people. who. though perhaps less success
ful. less lacking in the same spirit of
self-initiative.
AS Washington is the political and New-York
the commercial capital Of the New World, so,
according TO the author Boston may be regarded
its intellectual capital; classification which
undoubtedly held true in the past. and that
may be allowed to stand for the present. Thus
the Puritan spirit informed the beginnings of
our intellectual life This was a moral ideal
ism in which the worker did not set out TO per-
feet art and science. but aimed by art and
science 10 perfect himself. In other parts of the
country the spirit OF self perfection took on a
more utilitarian character seeking the intellect
ual life for the individuals outward success.
Alphabetically opposed in origin. and equally
selfish in expression
It is clear that both these tendencies in their So
Geological results Will always reach out far be-
yond their initial aims. Purltanism and Utilitar-
nevertheless must bear their fruits in the whole
intellectual status OF the nation Ethical ideaIism
sure it gives especially IN order to inspire in others
70 s inner Ideals h s II creafio2 of oS{ecfs OF
syt and scienoe Ittersnism ON the contrsr "
must early set such premium on on all achieve
way again the individual from purely utiltarian
motives is incited 10 bring his thought to a ere
which is informed with Puritan and ptilitaTian i'm
vance to new and national stage OF culture; but
the highest achievements will be made partly in
vice 2f ideals As the on on the
tendency. history law. literature, philosophy and
nique.
The community that believes its chief duty
TO be the highest perfection of the individual
viii direct its main attentions TO the church
and the school, and Professor Munsterberg
shows at length the hold that these two in
stitutions have upon our people; the influence
Of religion being stronger than that of
politics that the accomplished professional
politicians sharp to guide their party away
from any dangerous competition with that fac
tor" while the desire for the best possible
school system is for the American actually more
than a social duty-it has become a passion"
The social life of America finds its inspiration
in the national spirit of self-assertion, senti-
ment Of equality which, however in nowise
initiates against social distinctions that result
from differences of education, wealth. occupa-
ton and achievement, although it does demand
that these various distinctions shall be con-
sidered external TO the real personality. These
are but incidental to the great game Of life
which are always playing. in which, as
on the stage people assume different parts, for
the sake of the ensemble. without in any way
sacrificing their real personal identity and with
out prejudice TO their assuming other and diff
ferent relations to each other under changed
conditions. The whole situation. upon which the
author dilates most entertainingly is after all,
summed up by him in these words: The man
who truly sees social equality real part of
the social contract will feel toward those above
him as toward those below him" In his desire
TO show to his German readers that Americans
and German are approaching the same socio-
political plane from opposite directions. Profess
sor AI1nsterberg devotes a chapter to our "Aris-
tocratic Tendencies" but in the main his argu-
ments are discounted by his own statements in
the chapter just considered. His views the
Monroe Doctrine also. which he regards OBJ
soIete and unjustifiable, are obviously coored by
patriotic desire.