The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-15
they we're moro entitled than to the ben

they were moro entitled than to the bcll-
Gifts themselves.
Almost every Sunday in he Italian
quarter in which ! live, various mutual
benefit societies march with fife and
drum and with n brave showing Of.
banners, celebrating their achieve
ment in having surrounded themselves
BY at least thin wall OF protection
against disaster, setting up their nit
tual good will against the day Of mis-
fortune. These paradns have tll en-
blems OF patriotism: indeed, the MS
socatlons represent tho core o. pa, .,,o.
tism-brothcrs standing by each other
against hostile forces from without.
assure you that no Fourth of July cele-
braton. no rejoicing over the birth OF
an heir to the italian throne. cuunls IN
hoartiness and sincerity these simple
celebrations. Again, one longs to pour
into the government Of their adopted
country ali this affection and zeal, this
real patriotism.
Germany Affords perhaps. the best
example Of this concern of government
for the affairs Of the daily living Of Its
.mnge-earncrs, although belgium and
France, with their combination OF state
saving banks with life, insurance and
building ass collation., backed by the state
afford close second In ingenuity and
success All this would be impossible Ia
America, because It would be holly re-
sented by the American business man
who will not brook any governmental
Interference III industrial affairs. Is this
due to the Inherited Instinct that gov
urnment Is naturally oppressive. and
that Its lnroads must be checked? Arc
we in America retaining this tradition
while Europe is gradually evolving gov
ernments logically fitted to cope with
the Industrial situation?
53 Did the founders cling too hard to that
which they had won through persecution,
hardship. and finally through q war OF
revolution? Did these doctrines seem 80
precious to them that they were deter
mined to tie men up to them MS long
as possible, and allow them no chanccfto5
go on to new devices of government, lest i
they slight these that had been so hardly
Won? Did they estimate. not too highly,
but by too exclusive q valuation. that
which they had secured through the she'd
ding of blood7
Man has overestl,nated the spells Of
war and tended to lose his sense of
proportion in regard TO their value. He
has ever surrounded them with n glamour
beyond their deserts. This Is quite harm
less when the booty Is an enenly's sword
hung over a household fire, or battered
flag decorating a city hall; but when tho
spoil of warts an idea which Is bound
on the forehead ofthe victor TIL 1t cramps
his growth, a theory which he cherishcs
in his bosom until 1t grows so large and
so near that 1t an1icts It's possessor with
a sort of disease Of responsibility for Its
preservation, 1t may easily overshadow
the very people for whose cause the
warrior issued forth.
We have not yet apprehcndcd, with
the scientists call "the doctrine OF the
unspcclallzed what the religious man
calls "thc counsel Of imperfection. ana
the wise educator calls the "lsdom OF
tho little child"
If successful struggle ends In survival,
in latent and tangible success. and. as 1t
Is popularity supposed to do, IN q certain
hardness Of heart, with an lnvlnc'bla
desire to cling fast to the booty Whlch
has thus been hardly acquired. govern
ment will also have TO reckon win the
many who had been beaten in this strug-
.,le, with the effect upon them of the
contest and the defeat; for. after ALI
they Viii always represent tho majority
OF citizens, and 1t Is with Its large major
ity that sclf-govern ment must eventually
deal whatever else other governments
may determine for themselves
Professor Weaver. OF Columbia, mas
pointed out that "the cities have traal-
tlonally been the cradles OF llpertS, %
they are to-day the centcrs OF radlcal-
ism, (" andEthat 1t Is natural that prlllc
selnshncss should first be curbed ana
social feeling created at the poin, or ne
greater congestion. IL Wegonce aplnl' tllc
human dynamic character. Of. proEress'l
then we must loo!. to the cities SIS the
focal points Of that progress; ana u las IS
,i,,oro,,a effort at governmental reform,
rs well as the most generous expert
mcnts in mInlsterlng 10 social needs. have I've
como from the largest cities. are we
hnpinnlng to see the first timid, forward
reach Of ono Of those. instructive move
mcnts which carry forward the goodness
1'1r we could trust democratic govern
iment MS over against, and distinct from
tie older types from these which repress,
nonnln--.the,1 we should begin, TO know
what what democracy really Us, and our munl-
clpal administrator would n At Ia be ire ire
to attain Arstotlos .ldeal . OF - ,r.'y,
noble end
Chicago, Illinois.