The Washington herald., 1906-12-17
BREWER FINDS HOPE
Justice Frankly Discusses
American Tendencies.
TOO MUCH PRIDE IN BIGNESS
Despite Inconsistencies in National
Policies and individual Actions,
Spirit Of Charity and Fair Dealing
Prevails in the Land-Instanees
That Point to Higher Ideals.

New York, Dec. 16.-Justice David J.
Brewer. OF the United States Supreme
Court. spoke to-day at the session Of the
Peoples Forum, in New R0cheIe upon
The Larger and Higher Life Of the Ma
ton" The justice dwelt upon the gen
eral scope Of national tendencies in the
political and moral life Of the American
people. He found something TO criticise
and expressed an optimistic view Of the
future.
Edward NJ Shepard presided. and intro
duced the justice, who said, in part:
The United States is the marvel Of
the ages. 1t is the giant OF the centuries.
Not merely in its population. but by its
wealth. culture, and achievements which
has astonished the whole world. Three
centuries ago this republic was born out
Of nothing Since the time when, iso-
lated from Europe and dependent upon its
own resources. the nation began TO work
out its own destiny. the progress Of the
American people has been by geometrical
rather than by arithmetical progression %
The justice then dwelt at some length
upon the material welfare Of the coun-
try.
Instances of BigneSs.
The Pennsylvania Railroad and the
Standard Oil Company ne referred TO as
the best examples Of greatness that has
been attained in America. Think Of the
Standard oil Company" said he, that
corporation whose assets are SO great
that they cannot be disclosed Laughter
2 N- .l-ss
Il know OF no better Illustration Of
the phenomenal growth that everywhere
characterizes this story Of our national
life" continued the justice. than that
afforded by the State of Kansas. When
studied geography there was no such
name on the maps of our domain When
[ first went to the State there was not
a line Of railroad in it, and the people
used to see the pony express dash by
with its pack Of mail for The people far
ther West
To-day there are 10000 people in the
borders of that State, and its grain crop
last year was large enough to supply
twenty bushels to every family in the
United States.
THAT is an example Of bigness of this
land Of ours I do not err when I say that
pride in the bigness Of things is one Of
the chief American characteristics-pride
in the bigness and the fullness of plen-
ty. Do We not point out the lOngesr ear
Of corn? The tallest building? DO we
not hail the mother of tTiplets2
No Hercules Club, but a Big stick.
we stand out among the nations like
a Hercules. If we don't have Hercules
club. We at least possess a big stick in
Washington" Iaughter)
The speaker said he thinks that dan
ger lies in the national tendency to wor-
ship mere bigness and in the glory OF
strength
Those responsible for all the greatness
of this country must answer further
questions before our value TO the world
can be determined. The real questidns are:
Which way is the country looking? What
are the ideals and the Inspirations of this
nation? Is this republic seeking only ma
terial development. ostentatiOn, and pa
rade. or is it striving for the higher life
which shall benefit both the nation and
the people?
we are building up big navy; we are
now the fourth naval power. In all our
cities we vie in ostentation. We buy IL
braries by the cubic yard and art gal
leries by the job lot. We want to have
the biggest and finest yachts the most
gorgeous private castles.
DepIOres Tendency to Run Into Debt
What does all this signify?"
Justice Brewer answered this question
by pointing out what he believed to be
the growth of extravaganza in the indi-
vidual. the municipality, and the nation
More tan half of the States are heavily
in debt. he said. New York City owes SAL
0Oe. 600 The nation is running deeper into
debt each year.
we are too often ready to ruch into
debt for some Improvement which shall